Babies have a way of putting a smile on the faces of even the grumpiest folks among us.
These precious beings are often looked upon as being in a state of innocence, having not yet been corrupted by the world around them.
Adults are envious of a babe’s ability to take a peaceful nap in any place, at any time, being totally oblivious of any potential danger around them.
Not having reached the age or stage of moral accountability, they appear to be at peace with God and the world around them.
Scripture paints a very different picture in which the devil wants us to be unaware.
Since the Fall of Man, human babies come into this world physically alive, but spiritually dead and in need (1) of regeneration (2).
Furthermore, we come into this world with a nature that is inherently hostile (3) towards God and the things of God, that was passed down to us at conception (4).
This fallen nature does NOT go away when we are born again.
In his letter (5) to the believers in Rome, Paul spoke of his ongoing battle with this sin nature nearly thirty years after he was born-again, towards the end of his Earthly walk with the Lord.
Paul raised the question of when will advancing disciples be liberated from this ongoing struggle (6).
Advancing disciples are liberated from their struggle with this fallen nature when they leave their physical bodies behind, at the moment of their physical death, or when what theologians call the Rapture (7) takes place, whichever comes first.
Until then, the pressure associated with this ongoing battle will intensify, keeping pace with whatever progress an advancing disciple makes along the road to spiritual maturity.
This sin nature is inherently self-centered, self-willed, and hostile towards God and the things of God, seeking independence from all forms of authority (8), be it divine, parental, marital, governmental, or organizational.
When functioning under the influence of this fallen nature, the human soul does not want to be told what it should do, what it can do, what it can not do, or what it must do.
The subconscious mind, under the influence of the fallen nature, works days and nights engineering ways to circumvent the rules, regulations, and requirements of authority, in order to satisfy its own desires.
This answers the “what were you thinking” question.
Our overt, negative choices and behaviors are the result of following the voice of the fallen nature within us.
When under the influence of the fallen nature, even the “good” things we do for others can be no more than a selfish attempt to get something we want out of it for ourselves.
This becomes evident when we discontinue doing such good when we don’t get the anticipated return for our investments. ...
Satan knows the necessity of authority, and what the end result will be when authority is abused or rejected.
Abuse, negligence, or rejection of authority sets the stage for disaster on the global, national, organizational, family, and individual level.
The question that we must ask and answer for ourselves, is from whom or what is it, that we seek liberation?
Are we seeking freedom from the abuse and or neglect of those in positions of authority over us, or are we seeking freedom from the restrictions, limitations, and sacrifices that God, and or the things of God, requires of us?
We can count on the devil to supply us with all the logistical support we desire to rebel against God and the things of God.
God will allow us to make that choice, but it will be a decision that we will come to greatly regret.
“But what does it benefit a person to gain the whole world (get everything we want), and (afterwards) forfeit his soul (Mark 8: 36 NASB2020 parentheses mine)?”
In Mark 8: 46 “forfeit” is an English translation of the Greek word z-e-m-i-o-o meaning to lose, or as in this case, to damage.
This “forfeiture” refers to the Rev. 20: 15 consequence for the sin of disbelief, or the loss of the 1Cor. 3: 15 reward and the Rev. 2 and Rev. 3 privileges for rejecting discipleship.
In closing, consider that independence and liberation from one thing, often means bondage to something else (9), with negative outcomes.
(1) John 3: 7 (2). Titus 3: 5 (3) Romans 8:7 (4) Psalms 51: 5 (5.) Rom. 7:14ff (6) Rom.. 7: 24 (7) 1Thess. 4: 16, 17 (8) Romans 13: 1 (9) 2Pet. 2: 19