Hardly any athlete enters a game saying “today I am choosing to lose!” Instead, athletes do everything possible to win, even when they know winning is a longshot. I think this is why we see so many upsets in sports. An athlete or team may be less talented than another, but because of their hard work, mentality, and strategy they can defeat those with superior talent.
As human beings, we far too often choose to lose our battle against temptation. Oh sure, we know the difference between right and wrong, and most of us even know why we should do what is right. Yet, we regularly choose to sin. We choose to lose. Seldom does anyone truly force us to sin: we choose it. The Apostle Paul acknowledged this problem in his own life: For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Romans 7:15.
Why do we regularly choose to cave to sin and temptation? For the majority of us, its not because of a lack of knowledge. We would easily ace a test over what is right and what is wrong. The problem is our mind. There are two big problems with our minds. First, because of sin, our minds are imperfect. They are capable of making great decisions, but they can also make horrendous ones. Second, our minds are susceptible to the incorrect teachings of the world. The world tempts us into doing things we know our wrong, and our mind performs the mental gymnastics required to convince us that wrong isn’t exactly wrong. Take lying. We know it is wrong to lie, yet we do it all the time. Why? Because we allow our mind to develop all sorts of societally acceptable excuses: the truth would hurt, its only a small lie, everyone else lies, a lie will avoid conflict, etc.
How can we stop choosing to lose, to sin, in our lives? Paul informed us of this problem in Romans 7, and he gives us the solution in Romans 12.
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2
The Bile is telling us that if we want to stop choosing to sin, we need to always have a Christ-like mentality. We need to regularly choose to focus on God’s commandments and plans, not those of the world. If we cave even the littlest bit to the mentality of the world, we are likely to lose, falling into sin. Instead, choose to have a Christ-like mentality. Make God and His ways your daily focus, and resist the sinful mentality all around you.
