Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.  
 Colossians 3:5-7 (ESV)
 
     A friend once mentioned that he would be glad to get old so that he would not have to battle lust any more. All who have struggled with any works of the flesh can identify with his hope. But is that the only hope we have of overcoming the tyranny of the flesh?

     This text says that we have a greater hope. Paul is not teasing us with his admonition to "put to death what is earthly in us." He is not saying that regarding our sinful tendencies we can just say "no." If we could have solved the problem with a strong will, Jesus would not have died to liberate us. He is saying that because of being unified with Jesus in his death and resurrection we have the privilege and capacity to crucify the deeds of the flesh. Something radical has happened to us because of what Jesus did on the cross and we can now implement the benefits. If we died with him, then we can identify the outcroppings of the previous bent to self-centered living, and individually put them to death.

     They can be killed! We don't have to tolerate the programming of our fallen estate. We have been reprogrammed. We have been granted a grace that overcomes our selfishness with God's love. We have new clothes to wear, so why would we insist on wearing the old ones? We have his righteousness to claim, so why would we try to perfect ours? We have a new perspective, so why hold on to the old one?

     The biblical command to "put to death..." is full of hope. It means that God has dealt with something so strong that only death would defeat it. But he has defeated it so that we can enjoy the benefits by exercising our faith. When we act in obedience to this command the very power that raised Jesus from the dead begins to work in us to replace the deeds of the flesh with fruits of the Spirit.

     Don't tolerate it! Don't trust old age! Kill it.