Jekyll and Hyde

Let’s be honest. We struggle.

We struggle to do those things that are right, and all too easily fall into doing those things that we know are wrong – sin. This is the battle that every Christian faces. But there is good news. The very fact that this struggle exists is actually evidence of the new life within us. As Spurgeon said, “Dead men don’t wrestle”.

That doesn’t mean that those who are not Christians don’t ever have to, or can’t decide between right and wrong, but there is a uniqueness to the struggle we face as Christians because we want to honour God, yet are pulled towards to the world by our own desires, or through pressure from culture, or by our peers – or somethimes even by those closest to us.

The difference for a Christian

Before we become Christians we are slaves to sin. We can’t help but do things that dishonour God. But as Christians things are different: Romans 6:6-7 says our old man is crucified with Him – that is Jesus – and we are now free from sin. That doesn’t mean we don’t sin. But it does mean that we don’t have to sin, we don’t have to do those things. We have a choice. Being a Christian doesn’t mean that we are sinless, but we should sin less.

But beware – it’s not a once only choice. The struggle will come. Daily. Hourly. With each decision that you make. The apostle Paul was a man who was well aquainted with this struggle – he says in Romans 7:15

For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

Jekyll & Hyde

In 2003 Petra (the Christian rock group) recorded a song called Jekyll & Hyde based on the verse above – the lyrics are below:

I have a secret that I let nobody see
An evil shadow that’s been hanging over me
My alter ego that I try to hold at bay
But despite my good intentions he can always get away

He does the things that I don’t want to do

Sometimes I feel like Jekyll and Hyde
Two men are fighting a war inside

I have this secret that I let nobody see
It’s like a split personality
And the one I feed is the one who lives
The one I starve will be the one who gives

He won’t do things that I know I should do

Sometimes I feel like Jekyll and Hyde
Two men are fighting a war inside
One gives, one takes, I have to decide
Sometimes I feel like Jekyll and Hyde

I need somebody to rescue me
When personalities clash
I know which person I want to be
With no defiance
Just God-reliance

There’s a significant point that this song makes regarding this dual nature we have (the flesh vs the Spirit) – “The one I feed is the one who lives, the one I stave will be the one who gives.”

What is your diet like?

How much do you feed your flesh? I’m not talking about trips to McDonalds. But I am talking about diet. What is your spiritual diet like? Are you feeding on worldly ideas – intentionally or not – through your choice in music (because of the lyrics, not the style), the TV you watch, the films you go to see, the friends you choose?

What is your intake of spiritual food? – reading the Bible, listening to the Bible being taught. Again, how much time do you spend with other Christians?

When you are faced with temptation, with a decision to make, your choice will almost certainly be a result of which nature you have been feeding.

Listen to/purchase Jekyll & Hyde by Petra:

• iTunes
• Spotify