Simplicity in Christ

“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” – 2 Corinthians 11:3

Complexity seems to be a trademark of humanity.  We live in a busy, complicated, clutter filled world.  While it affords us comforts and ease in this life, certainly the “cares of this world and deceitfulness of riches” choke the Word and it becomes unfruitful.  This is a danger that every Christian must vigilantly guard against.  We must be ever watchful of the corruption, complication, confusion, and complexity that would separate us from the simplicity that is in Christ.

Adam and Eve had but one commandment in the garden: “do not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”  Satan corrupted that commandment in Eve’s mind; he convinced her that the implications of disobedience were not what God said they would be.  Furthermore, he appealed to her vanity, promising that they will be “as gods.”  Until their fall, Adam and Eve lived a simple and pleasant life; walking and communing with God the Father.  Maintaining their fellowship was not a complicated task; truly his “yoke is easy, and his burden is light.”  Satan complicated that task in their minds, and once they sinned; the complication and confusion in their lives only increased.  Paul the apostle was met with the same issue.  Satan, continuing to play the same trick.  Using the corrupt and complex to preach false doctrine and woo away the mind of those who would be tempted.  The same is true for us today.  Satan is consistently using someone, something, or some thought; attempting to convince and persuade those to depart from the simplicity in Christ.  This can be done “by any means.”  The world (and the devices in it) today is no different than the false prophets and teachers of old.  The false teachers of ancient times preached in a different way than the false sermons to the masses preached today, but the crux of it is essential the same.  That sermon is this; you are the master of your own life.  It appeals to lust & pride; we find it in: movies, television, music, magazines, and social media.  We find it in others, and unless Jesus Christ reigns on the throne of your heart, we find it in ourselves.  The church of YOU is organized, aggressive, evangelistic, and outspoken.  They shout the loudest and the longest, but at its core, it is empty.  Choosing to be a disciple of this church may seem like the easy road, but the contrary is true, it is corrupt, complicated and difficult.  It is filled with darkness, depression, despair, and hopelessness; brought about as a result of all kinds of bad choices.  These choices are ones that you made, because, you thought you could be the master of your own life.  You thought you could own sin, but sin owned you.  The only power that can banish sin out of the human heart is Jesus Christ.  

The simple fact is this; no one of us can master our own life better than Jesus Christ.  We are born in sin.  True, this sin can rule you, define you, and destroy you, but it does not have to be that way.  Jesus Christ died for you, he loves you, and he wants to take away sin in your life.  You can repent, God will forgive.  You can commit to serve him all the balance of your days, and Jesus will help you to do so. Jesus Christ changes lives.  I was once a sinner, but Christ called me, forgave me, and sanctified me.  Jesus Christ changed my life, and he can change yours too.  This simplicity should never be corrupted.