We’ve all seen reports of so-called “honor killings” in the media. This may shock you, but I’m proposing an honor killing. It is necessary. In fact, circumstances demand it.
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Honor killings are typically seen as a sort of revenge for a horrible offense. In recent times you’ve probably read about some person who was executed for drawing a cartoon of a religious leader. Or perhaps it was because of some other “offense” such as a conversion away from a culturally-accepted religion to a newfound faith in Christ.
The honor killing I am proposing has some similarities to those situations. This situation unquestionably requires the death of the offender.
The person whose death is demanded …. is ME. (Oh, and YOU TOO, by the way)
Within me there is “the old man” who needs to die. The “old man” must be replaced by the new. This earthly nature is destroying the witness of my new life in Christ. He’s got to go. He must be killed!!! And the sooner, the better. It is a matter of honor.
Now lest you think that I’ve gone off the deep end of the pool, let me assure you that what I’m proposing is totally scriptural. It was the Apostle Paul who wrote to the church in Colossae that we ought to, “put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.”
Put it to death!!! Kill it!! Kill it NOW.
The reason this is necessary is because your earthly nature is killing you just as surely as cancer would. Your earthly nature may be sitting quietly, almost unnoticed. But whether you notice it or not, it is killing you … slowly. Its impact will increase and its effect will grow. You need to remove it, eradicate it. You need to kill it.
Today’s verse says GOD PAID A GREAT PRICE FOR YOU, THEREFORE HONOR GOD WITHYOUR BODY.
Sexual immorality, greed and evil desires – we used to walk in those ways. But that was BEFORE CHRIST. That person has to die. Now we must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from our lips. Those belong to the earthly nature, not the heavenly one that Christ is building in you!!!!
God paid a GREAT PRICE for you. Now he expects us to HONOR HIM! First by dying to the old nature, and then by using our body to HONOR God. We have taken off the old self with its sinful practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
In Christ, death is the path to life. His death was followed by His resurrection. The death of the old man, our earthly nature, will be followed in us by a powerful new life in Christ; a life nurtured by His sacraments, fed by His word and empowered by His Spirit.
My old life may have been an offensive cartoon, but touch of the Master’s hand is now creating a beautiful masterpiece. The beauty He creates will make people stop and stand in awe.
Put to death WHATEVER belongs to your earthly nature. Put on the NEW SELF, which is being renewed in the knowledge of God.
God paid a great price for you. So HONOR GOD with your body.
