Some main points of my sharing to the youth:
1. We have the power to overcome sin.
"I can't do it" is not an excuse. For in Christ, we are dead to sin, no longer slaves of sin having no choice but to obey it's whims - instead we are slaves of Christ (Romans 6, 7). Having a new identity - a new obligation to righteousness. Sin has lost it's power over us - and when temptation comes, we have the ability in Christ to walk away.
2. Why self-control? Why purity in life?
Romans 3: 23 says, "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." This verse we repeat over and over again when sharing the gospel, but fail to note that the consequence of sin mentioned here is a great one. A failure to glorify God. For man and all creation have been created to glorify God (Isaiah 43: 6 - 7). And falling short of God's glory is now the main problem sin brings. (The 'separation from God' etc. are consequences that follow), but sin means that we fail to live a life centered on the glory of God - God's glory is at stake.
When we know we live not for ourselves, our dreams, our hopes, our desires: but solely to bring glory to God through our lives - how could we look lightly upon our sins that compromise the very purpose of our creation - to glorify God?
3. Is self-control easy?
No. The answer is definitely 'no'. From the lamentations of Paul in his fight against sin (Rom 7: 24-25), to the groaning of the universe, akin to birth pangs waiting to be redeemed from a world of sin (Rom 8: 18 - 22), the fight against sin is tough because it goes against the desires of our flesh which is so close to us. God promised us victory but not easy victory.
Just as the Israelites had to wipe out town to town to enter the promised land of Canaan, so must we be equally ruthless when dealing with sins related to the members of our body. Jesus said, "If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out..." (Matt 5: 29). The battle for self control is fierce, and one has to be constantly vigilant. And indeed, Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is suffered by violence (Matt 11: 12). There is no short cut, just like an athlete cannot say half-way in a race - let me take a break! But at the end of it all, we could proclaim like Paul in 2 Tim 4: 7, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." These are not light words! The race lasts a lifetime - but the rewards are eternal.
4. Forgiveness if we fall
For we do fall. But remember that you are battling cancelled, forgiven, sin, if you are already saved in Christ! Jesus said in 1 John 1: 9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all.
5. Self Control is NOT "Just Saying No"
For control through mere willpower does not glorify God, but glorifies self instead. Instead of saying "No" to sin, say "Yes" to God. When you fill your mind with desires for God and His word, when your heart and mind is filled with desire for God, it will far outweigh the multitude of desires this world can offer.
C.S. Lewis once quoted that the problem with men's desire is not that it is too strong, but on the contrary, too shallow and weak. He said, "Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward, and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."
When God becomes your prize, your treasure; when your heart is infinitely satisfied with Him - it makes it easier to die to self, and because you die to self, you live, to Him and for Him.
Yes, I am currently undertaking myself this journey in making God my greatest desire, in dying to self every day. It is indeed difficult. I do well in some situations, I lapse momentarily and regret - why have I been sarcastic, unhelpful, why have I not shared the gospel, why was I dissatisfied, why did I gossip and speak ill of another behind their backs, why was I impatient, why was I unappreciative, why was I not diligent and lightening the burdens of others.
It is painful to die to self, to stifle the sinful desires and wants of the flesh. But when reflecting on the staggering love and mercy for God - for sins pardoned, for love and strength promised, for hope eternal. It is joy in suffering, and in a way, that is what it means to share in His suffering as well, and carry His cross. To live so that God gets the glory. To be satisfied with Him as my deepest desire, and worthy is He for that.
Someone asked an Abbot: What if you were to realize that at the end of your life, there is no God?" And the Abbot replied, "Holiness, silence and sacrifice are beautiful in themselves, even without promise of reward. I still will have used my life well." But Paul said in 1 Cor 15: 19, "If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied."
For in this life - we live and die for Christ; and nothing else, and therefore if Christ was not true, nothing at all would be our gain, and everything our loss. Such is Paul's devotion for Christ, and so is ours, because we know Christ to be true. And we are motivated by the faithfulness and the love of God, who first cleansed us from our sins, and gave us His righteousness, that we may live a life that glorifies Him. And He gave us the best thing He could have given - Himself, and His love, for our deepest joy and satisfaction.
May our continual journey in dying to self be glorifying to the Lord. May we boldly embrace and bear the fierce fruit of self-control.
