I remember as a child watching cartoons on our black and white Philco TV that had a circular screen about 8 or 10 inches in diameter. This was in the early 1960's . One cartoon that has remained in my memory is what I want to share with you.
There was a cartoon character Fred Flintstone who was faced with not helping his best friend Barney out by sharing the possible winnings of a sweepstakes ticket because Barney didn’t have the money to buy one for himself . Then the angel confronted Fred about his greedy attitude while the devil said it would be stupid to share the money, on one shoulder there was the devil and on the other shoulder was the angel. The devil was tempting Fred to be greedy and the angel to be loving, giving and sharing. Even though this was only a cartoon the concept of two spirits speaking in our minds is actually a reality. 2 Corinthians 11:3 Ephesians 6:11 2 Corinthians 2:11
I have experienced this choosing of good or evil many times as I am sure you have as well. There are inner voices in the mind that represent good and evil. These voices are not orginating from your mind but from outside your mind and entering into your mind. Most of the time this spiritual phenomenon is thought to be just our own inner voice and don’t give it another thought. This is what the Bible calls spiritual warfare that is fought in our human spirit or mind. While Christians are not oblivious to this spiritual warfare and even know the best choices to make far to often make the wrong choice. Sin very often is the result, Hebrews 12:1 the phrase, “easily ensnares us” is a true statement as Romans 7:12-25 explains. “When I want to do good evil is present with me, another law at work in my body warring against the law of my mind for the good that I want to do I do not, but the evil that I don’t want to do that I do” You see, a Christian wants to do good and obey GOD, but there is a spiritual force, Ephesians 6:12, spiritual wickedness in high places that causes us to go against our own will and that is why , “it is no longer I that sin but sin that dwells in me” Romans 7:17 Yes, we often lose these spiritual battles but the ultimate victory was won for us by Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:56,57 Romans 7:24
Galatians 5:17 Matthew 26:41
GOD ALMIGHTY sees that the thoughts and intents of our human spirit is to love and obey HIM, Hebrews 4:12,13 , and is fully aware of these spiritual forces of wickedness. If we do sin, we have an advocate with the FATHER, Jesus Christ and our faith in GOD and HIS son to believe the message of the gospel. 1 John 2:1 It is because of this faith that we can be forgiven and have that faith imputed to us as righteousness. Romans 4:24 Genesis 15:6 Galatians 3:6 James 2:23 Romans 3:22
I know it is a stretch to compare a cartoon to the truth of the gospel , but we are all like Fred Flintstone except we aren’t a cartoon character.
There was a cartoon character Fred Flintstone who was faced with not helping his best friend Barney out by sharing the possible winnings of a sweepstakes ticket because Barney didn’t have the money to buy one for himself . Then the angel confronted Fred about his greedy attitude while the devil said it would be stupid to share the money, on one shoulder there was the devil and on the other shoulder was the angel. The devil was tempting Fred to be greedy and the angel to be loving, giving and sharing. Even though this was only a cartoon the concept of two spirits speaking in our minds is actually a reality. 2 Corinthians 11:3 Ephesians 6:11 2 Corinthians 2:11
I have experienced this choosing of good or evil many times as I am sure you have as well. There are inner voices in the mind that represent good and evil. These voices are not orginating from your mind but from outside your mind and entering into your mind. Most of the time this spiritual phenomenon is thought to be just our own inner voice and don’t give it another thought. This is what the Bible calls spiritual warfare that is fought in our human spirit or mind. While Christians are not oblivious to this spiritual warfare and even know the best choices to make far to often make the wrong choice. Sin very often is the result, Hebrews 12:1 the phrase, “easily ensnares us” is a true statement as Romans 7:12-25 explains. “When I want to do good evil is present with me, another law at work in my body warring against the law of my mind for the good that I want to do I do not, but the evil that I don’t want to do that I do” You see, a Christian wants to do good and obey GOD, but there is a spiritual force, Ephesians 6:12, spiritual wickedness in high places that causes us to go against our own will and that is why , “it is no longer I that sin but sin that dwells in me” Romans 7:17 Yes, we often lose these spiritual battles but the ultimate victory was won for us by Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:56,57 Romans 7:24
Galatians 5:17 Matthew 26:41
GOD ALMIGHTY sees that the thoughts and intents of our human spirit is to love and obey HIM, Hebrews 4:12,13 , and is fully aware of these spiritual forces of wickedness. If we do sin, we have an advocate with the FATHER, Jesus Christ and our faith in GOD and HIS son to believe the message of the gospel. 1 John 2:1 It is because of this faith that we can be forgiven and have that faith imputed to us as righteousness. Romans 4:24 Genesis 15:6 Galatians 3:6 James 2:23 Romans 3:22
I know it is a stretch to compare a cartoon to the truth of the gospel , but we are all like Fred Flintstone except we aren’t a cartoon character.
