What good are door locks and security screens of a house if an intruder is already secretly positioned within?

 If you were asked the question, “Who is your arch-enemy?” and you answered, “Satan”, you would be correct. However, while Satan exists and operates outside of our lives, there is another enemy who secretly lives within each of us. 

What is the identity of this enemy within? Jesus gives us the answer, He says, “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must deny your-self….” (Luke 9:23). Self + Jesus cannot be a harmonious mix as both want to control our lives – and both are in opposition to each other. We can’t be self-driven and Christ-driven at the same time – it’s either one or the other! And, the choice is ours to make.

Beware: A synonym for Satan is self!

Self is not an ally. Self loves to grandstand and hog the spotlight. Self works hard to dominate and rule as an unrivaled monarch within. Self is hostile to Christ and righteousness. That’s why the first qualification of anyone who desires to follow Christ is the ‘denial’ (putting to death) of self, within.

R.C.H. Lenski, a well-known Bible commentator, once said, “Cure selfishness and you have just replanted the Garden of Eden.” Lenski is right!  If you cure the selfishness within you, you will be able to taste what life was like in the Garden of Eden (Paradise) before Adam and Eve sinned… it was sweet and satisfying!

Friends, self will not make it into Heaven. If allowed, self will give you a belly-full of hell throughout your life on earth. Self is an unrelenting, destructive force – if allowed to rule it will destroy everything that is good and decent in your life and will cause harm to those you love and care about.

Living the life of an authentic Christian is the most demanding pursuit there is – demanding the practice self-denial… every moment of every day, for the duration of your life on earth. However, denying yourself does not mean you must think ‘less of yourself’, but you should ‘think of yourself less’.

So, watch out! Beware! Beware of your-self… the real enemy, residing within.