by Keith Sharp
“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life” (Galatians 6:7-8).
“The Road Not Taken”
Robert Frost
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I–
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
In life we can travel one of two ways – the flesh or the spirit, and the road we choose will determine our eternal destiny.
Flesh
The apostle Paul uses the term “flesh” of literal flesh, including that of humans (1 Corinthians 15:39), of the physical body (Ephesians 5:29), as a figure of speech (synecdoche) for humans (1 Corinthians 1:29), of a fleshly, human relationship (Romans 9:3), of human standards in contrast with the divine standard (1 Corinthians 1:26), and of the sensuous part of man, with its animal-like passions and desires (Galatians 5:24).
Fleshly desires are not inherently sinful. God gave us our flesh with its natural desires (Genesis 2:7; Psalm 139:13), and He made us upright (Ecclesiastes 7:29). Our fleshly passions have legitimate purposes and lawful, innocent fulfillments (1 Corinthians 7:2; Hebrews 13:4; Mark 7:18-19; 1 Timothy 4:4-5). Jesus had the same flesh we have (Hebrews 2:14-17), yet He was without sin or defilement (Hebrews 4:15; 7:26).
But fleshly desires are avenues through which Satan tempts us to sin (Romans 8:5-8; Galatians 5:16-17; James 1:13-15; 1 John 2:15-17). It is not sinful to be so tempted (James 1:14-15; Hebrews 4:15). Rather, sin comes when we fulfill these desires unlawfully (1 John 3:4).
Spirit
The word “spirit” (Greek “pneuma”) literally means “wind” (Vine). The apostle Paul uses the term 137 times in His letters. In Romans chapter eight alone he employs the term nineteen times. The apostle uses the word to denote the Holy Spirit, one of the three divine Persons Who compose the one, true God (Galatians 5:16, 18, 22, 25). He leads us through the inspired Word in the way that is right and leads to heaven (Romans 8:2, 14; 1 Peter 1:22-23). The Holy Spirit appeals to our spirits, our higher nature, made in the image of God (Romans 8:5-6).
Conclusion
If we live for the flesh, we will die; if we live for the spirit we will live eternally (Galatians 6:7-8). You can travel only one of two roads, and the road you choose will make the eternal difference. Which way will you choose?
