We are quick to blame someone else for all of life's problems. We beat our heads against an imaginary wall, fighting an enemy that does not exist, while the real enemy is SELF. We are SELF-SATISFIED, SELF-CENTERED, SELF--SUFFICIENT, and SELFISH.
Adam blamed Eve for his sin (Gen. 3:12) but his problem was SELF. Eve accused the serpent of causing her sin (Gen. 3:13) but her enemy was SELF. Sin originated with SELF. Sin lives today because of SELF. The SELF we so desperately cling to will be lost until we learn to let go of it. We should not be amazed that Jesus once said that in order to find ourselves, we must first lose ourselves (Matt. 10:39). Yet, most people are desperately clinging to SELF.
Recently a little bird reminded me of self-centered people who are destroying themselves. The bird attacked its own reflection mirrored in our kitchen window. The bird repeatedly attacked the window. I have often wondered why some birds do such a thing. I recently found out why.
A bird who attacks itself in a mirrored reflection is usually a male bird. These male birds have a certain territory that they claim as their own. If one male bird enters another's territory, he attacks it. Occasionally a male claims a piece of territory that has in it a house with glass windows. When the light is right he can see a reflection of himself and think it is an enemy intruding on his territory. The male bird will continue to attack until the reflection disappears, he becomes disoriented, or he kills himself.
People are a lot like these silly little birds. They beat their heads against their own reflections thinking they are fighting enemies while all of the time the real enemy is SELF. Every human problem is caused from attempting to make SELF the center of life. You can see how problems can arise with everyone wanting his or her own private SELF as the center. You have probably heard some say, "I never had any problems until I met him," or "I dont have any problems when I am by myself." What they say is true because a person who is around only himself has no rivals. There is a sound Biblical solution to all of our problems caused by self-centeredness. Paul said that we must die to self and live for Christ (Rom. 6:11). He said of himself: "I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Gal. 2:20) When we are in Christ and Christ is in us, then we become one with Christ and everyone else who is in Christ. We are no longer threatened by our own reflections because SELF is no longer our goal; Christ is. We can all be one in Christ (Gal. 3:26-28). But not until we first replace SELF with CHRIST.
SELF is our worst enemy. Until we give up self for Christ, we will never find life or peace.
---Riley Walker