My family used to take an annual trip to Silver Dollar City, a theme park near Branson, Missouri. As a boy, I looked forward every year to the roller coasters, cave exploring and kettle corn. But my favorite was the train ride running through the forest.
The scenery was fine, but I was looking forward to the outlaw. About halfway through the journey, a cowboy would ride up along the train waiving a six-shooter. He always found his way onto the train, walking down the aisle in our car, collecting a few wallets before the sheriff arrived to run him off. With order now restored, we were soon on our way to the log ride.
In the book of Romans, Paul points out the struggle within us, while celebrating the beauty of what Jesus has done and is still doing. “We know that our old self was crucified with Him…” (Rom. 6:6), that is, with Jesus. This ‘old man’ was crucified with Christ, left at the cross when Jesus took on our sin. This is good news! And yet, soon after proclaiming this, Paul reminds us that there is something else “waging war” inside me and inside you (Rom. 7:23). This thing is “making me captive”, in Paul’s words. How can both of these be true?
When we choose to follow Jesus, we acknowledge our sinful condition, and we are come humbly to the cross. In that moment, the Bible is very clear that God forgives our sin, and that we are “set free” from the bondage of our sin (Rom 6:22). We are now alive in Christ! And yet, we are still walking around in these earthly bodies, which are prone to sin. I once read a commentary (Matthew Henry) that compared this struggle to having an outlaw inside us, roaming around in the dark areas of our hearts. This guy is trying to take me captive, into bondage.
It’s been my experience that all men will agree that this outlaw exists. Before knowing Jesus, we were quick to let the outlaw run freely. As we learn to follow Jesus, the Holy Spirit helps us see clearly where the outlaw is still roaming. But are we quietly allowing this guy to reside in the crawl space at our house? Are we harboring him? This can happen in very subtle and familiar ways. Often in the ways that we medicate, or in the images and words that we allow into our cars and homes. He’s deceptive.
Paul was a man’s man. He was battle-tested, gritty. And Paul knew both the depth of his sinful flesh and the source of his only hope for deliverance. “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God – through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Rom 7:24-25). He understood the outlaw inside him, and that his weakness was made perfect in Jesus’ strength.
Our job as men is to invite the Holy Spirit into these dark places in our hearts, and to bring these messy areas into the light. Jesus is desiring to heal these areas, and to bring us new life (John 10:10). Abundant life. The outlaw is seeking only to “steal, kill and destroy”. How long will you continue to let him roam around? What door are you leaving open?
Question: What area of your life are you giving food and oxygen to the outlaw?
Action Step: Find a trusted friend and confide in him where you are struggling. Ask him to pray with you and invite the Holy Spirit into this area to bring healing.
