TUG OF WAR

“I call on heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have presented you with life and death, the blessing and the curse. Therefore, choose life, so that yo will live, you are your descendants.”
Deuteronomy 30:19

Did you know that Tug of War was an Olympic sport from 1900 to 1920? Teams from other nations would gather in a host country before many to show their strength. I never knew this before today. For me, it was always a childhood game that we played growing up. Do you remember playing tug of war as a child? I do. My fondest memory of this game was back in grade school, during the times when we would have our Field Day competitions. This was the chance for the strongest class to show their strength as a whole against the weaker classes, much like they did during the Olympics and even before that. I remember being in that strong class during fourth grade. But as the years went on and students were randomly placed in other classes, I also found myself being mixed in with a weaker bunch. I am not sure I would qualify myself as a poor sport, but no one ever wants to lose.
As I was doing my personal Bible study and devotion recently, my scripture passage landed in Romans 7. It is in this chapter we find Paul’s do-do. “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do” (Rom 7:15). Paul was telling the reader that he finds a personal game of tug of war going on for his spirit. In the moments when he does not want to sin, he finds himself sinning or being tempted strongly to do so. He wants to serve Adonai, and knows he should, but then he finds himself doing what he knows is not right. Is that not a perfect picture of what we also struggle with?
In my own life I find there is a constant battle going on. Just like Paul, I find myself engaged in a battle of tug of war. On one side is the army of hell that is pulling me with all their might over to their side of sin. On the other side is the army of Adonai who is also pulling me away from sin and into eternal life. I am that little red flag in the middle tied to the rope. I find myself yanked and pulled back and forth as both sides work in resistance of each other. Where will I end? I know that I should do Adonai’s will and resist all temptation and not give in to sin. But I also know that sin can be fun. For years I have experienced the momentary joy of sin. The problem is, when sin is done I am left with the constant vomit of guilt that the enemy spews on me. Is it worth it? No. After being spewed on for so many years, I don’t want sin anymore.
In the end, Paul’s words in verse 21 are true. When we desire to do good the enemy will be right there waiting for us. The enemy only cares about our destruction (Jn 10:10). He will lure us with temptation, puff up our pride, and promise us the world, but in end he will leave broken, shamed, and empty. Is that the life we want? It is not what I want. So as the red flag hanging from the middle of the rope, I want to exert my being to the side that shows promise. Moshe told the Isra’elites to choose life over death in Deuteronomy 30:19. As such, it is time that I personally take a stand with my brothers and sisters who have made that choice. I choose life. How about you?

Deuteronomy 30:15-20