It was time to feed my hen in the evening when an outside rooster came wandering by once again. It was roaming around, probably looking for food or a mate, and soon discovered that there was ample food inside the cage where my hen was eating. Sloppily, it entered the cage. When I noticed, I locked the little door of the cage.
While it spent time in the cage, it was oblivious to its new environment and unaware that it had just given up its liberty of movement. By entering that confinement, its desire was at odds with its reasoning because all it wanted was to eat and mate.
After satisfying its hunger, the rooster began to realize its predicament. It grew restless and started to pace around the four corners of the cage, looking for an exit to regain its freedom. Many would overlook such a situation, considering it usual in the animal kingdom, perhaps because animals lack the pursuit of holiness that humans are called to.
Man was given the charge, “Be holy, for I am Holy” (1 Peter 1:16 KJV). This command was given to the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. Our reasoning (or understanding) was darkened (Ephesians 4:18), our desires were entangled (Ephesians 2:3), and our wills were perverted (John 5:40). However, through new birth, our reasoning is enlightened again, our affections and desires redirected, and our wills subdued. Though this is true, it does not happen all at once. In experience, it is a growing process, so we are instructed to renew our minds (Romans 12:2), set our affections on things above (Colossians 3:1), and submit our wills to God (James 4:7).
The Father most often appeals to our wills through our reasoning, whereas sin and Satan usually appeal to us through our desires. Satan attacks our reasoning to confuse and cloud our judgment, which allows him to conquer us through our desires. This strategy was used on Eve (Genesis 3:1-6). He questioned God’s integrity to confuse her reasoning, but his primary temptation was directed at her desires. Eve saw that the tree was good for food, a delight to the eyes, and desirable for gaining wisdom (Genesis 3:6).
Given that Satan primarily attacks us through our desires, we must be diligent in guarding our desires and consistently applying the Word of God to our lives, as this is a wise spiritual practice. Each of us should strive to recognize how sin exploits our desires and take preventive measures. This is the advice Paul gave to Timothy when he instructed him to “flee the evil desires of youth” (2 Timothy 2:22). We are called to set our desires on spiritual things and delight ourselves in the law and will of God (Psalm 1:2). If we are to become increasingly like Christ, we must give attention to the direction of our hearts and to the objects that stir up our desire.
