Either – or
Either you live according to your human nature, which in different Bible translations is referred to as your sinful self or as the flesh, or you live according to the Spirit. “Those who live as their human nature tells them to, have their minds controlled by what human nature wants. Those who live as the Spirit tells them to, have their minds controlled by what the Spirit wants. To be controlled by human nature results in death; to be controlled by the Spirit results in life and peace.” Romans 8:5-6 (GNB). You can live according to your sinful nature (Romans 7:5), or you can be in the Spirit (Romans 8:9). It is up to you. Do you live according to the desires of your human nature, or do you live in the Holy Spirit?
“So then, my brothers and sisters, we have an obligation, but it is not to live as our human nature wants us to.” Romans 8:12 (GNB). If you live in the Spirit, your human nature with its sinful desires is powerless; it is “crucified” (Gal.2:20). But if you live according to your human nature and its sinful desires, you crush your conscience, and you cannot hear Him who speaks from heaven. What are you listening to? To the lusts and desires in your human nature, or to your conscience and to Him who speaks from heaven?
No one can serve two masters
It is one or the other. “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.” Matthew 6:24. Who is your Lord? Christ or Satan? Whom do you love most? Whom do you follow? Your answers to these all-important questions will decide how your eternity will be. Be honest with yourself.
If up until now you have lived according to your sinful human nature, and acted according to the will and thoughts of your sinful nature, then repent; put an end to all demands of your sinful nature. Open your heart and your ear to God’s calling and His voice. Everyone must serve a master – either sin and unrighteousness which results in death, or righteousness which results in life and peace. There is no middle way. Either death rules, or grace and righteousness rule (Romans 5:17). You either open yourself to faith or you open yourself to unbelief.
Whom will you serve?
“But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.” Romans 6:22 (NIV).
Each one of us must personally decide whom we will serve. It depends on what we want. We all have the power to choose. No one can say he cannot serve the Lord if he really wants to. God answers immediately when a person chooses to serve Him. He will help that person to put every area of his life in order. If He wouldn’t do it, no one would be able to serve Him. However, it is written, “Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.” Revelation 22:17.