"Running From Bad To Good"

By: Zach Wood

1 Corinthians 2:12

We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God,

that we may understand what God has freely given us.

 

 

There is something I just cannot understand.  Maybe you can help me out here?  When we come to Jesus Christ and receive Him, aren't we given His Spirit?  The Spirit that protects us, guides us and leads us?  We have guidance from a Holy Spirit, not a worldly spirit.  Then, why do we keep struggling with following the worldly spirit?  This passage is given to us by Paul and he's advising us of receiving wisdom from the Spirit.  Not just any spirit, but the Spirit of God!  Only children of God can understand the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit gives us wisdom so that we can make wise choices in the path that leads to Christ.  Even after realizing everything that Christ has done for us and given to us, we still choose to follow the spirit of the world.  For myself, I'm ashamed to say that sometimes I enjoy following the spirit of the world.  Why?  It's easier.  Honestly!  Come on, admit it!  You think so, too, don't you?  It's easier to follow the spirit of the world and blend in with everything going on.  It's easier to mold into what others are doing and where they're going.  It's harder to form to the Spirit of God and follow His path!  

 

Christ commands us to run from the bad spirit and cling to the good Spirit.  Tell me something.  Is it easier to get away from someone or something if you're walking or running?  Simple answer, right?  Of course!  It's much, much easier to get away from something that's harmful if we just run.  In James 4:7 we read, "Submit yourselves, then, to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. "  James tells us that God wants us to flee the devil and his spirit which is in the world.  It's all around us and trying to pull us from the Holy Spirit.  However, the closer we are to God, the more we are able to resist what Satan throws in our way and run the other way.  The more we submit ourselves to God with heart, mind, soul, and strength, the better equipped He allows us to be when we face the dark spirit of the world. 

 

We need to not listen to the wisdom from this world.  The wisdom from this world has nothing but temporary fixes and pleasures for us.  The Holy Spirit has a plan that will last forever!  Sounds a little more worthwhile, doesn't it?  The more we run from what is bad and cling to what is good, we understand God and His plan more.  We start to understand more of what He's done for us and why His plan is much better and spiritually healthy.  It's just not worth it to follow the spirit of the world.  It's easier and many times more pleasing, but it has its dead-end at some point in time.  Don't follow a dead-end spirit.  Follow the Holy Spirit which is eternal.  Run from the bad and cling to what is good.