July 28, 2008
One Possible Cure For Depression?
Alright, here is my opinion: Depression is caused by a life apart from God. The answer: Repentance.
We cannot receive the Comfort of God while at the same time denying that we carry attitudes of immorality and actions of sin. Sin comes when lust becomes actions.
James 1:12-17 (NKJV) "Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am tempted by God'; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning."
Sin separates us from God. The Law is to teach us and give us knowledge of what sin is. It is not only the things we do or say. It is the underlying belief system that directs us to think the way we do. It is the attitudes and morality in our hearts. The things that come out of us, our words and deeds, are expressions of what lies deep inside and they defile us because it exposes our heart, our concept of what is right and wrong. I'm talking about our attitudes toward God and what He says is right and wrong: God's standards.
Knowledge of sin is acknowledging that you have fallen short of God's standards. That is why Jesus could say, "To look at a woman lustfully means you have already committed adultery with her in your heart" and again, "To speak in rage with someone is the same as murder."
Matthew 5:27-28 (NKJV) "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I (Jesus) say to you, that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart."
Matthew 5:21-22 (NKJV) "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in hanger of the judgment.' But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire."
Repentance is a turning from that belief system and its consequences, which is a life without God, separation from the giver of life. Life without God is an eternal death separated from Him in hell.
Repentance that brings about a true sorrow for your sin brings redemption. You must come to a realization that you are a sinner and have come short of the Glory of God, the standard that God has set out for us.
Jesus died on the cross to take the penalty for our sin. He alone has the power to forgive.
Jesus Christ paid the price for all men, everywhere, for all time.
God, by His Holy Spirit, came and was born a human baby (Jesus), to live a sinless life and take the death penalty for our sins! When you come to the realization that you are a sinner and repent from your sins and accept the atonement of Jesus Christ by asking Him to be Lord of your life, then the very Holy Spirit of God will come to dwell in you to teach you and to comfort you and to bring you joy.
There, the answer to depression is a submitted life to God the Father by His Son, Jesus Christ, and the infilling of the Holy Spirit who bears witness to your regenerated life! Building a relationship with God (not a religion) through His Holy Spirit brings completeness and a joy that no one or no thing can take away!
Exodus 20:2-3 (NKJV) "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me."
The first commandment is that you recognize that there is a God and that He is it! Then you give Him your allegiance. Everything else is meaningless until you come to this realization. If you do not believe that there is a God who is alive and real, then the question of sin is of no good. Because if God is not a force to be reckoned with, there are no consequences for sin. Sin and morality become relative and subjective because there are no consequences.
Without God's standards, your own standards (which fluctuate with every emotion) are good enough. You and your own opinions become your standard of measure, your god. Your life follows this swelling and receding tide and changes with every doctrine or belief or opinion that you choose to consider.
James 1:8 (NKJV) "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."
Knowledge of sin and a relationship with God? That becomes totally irrelevant and is replaced by man's philosophies and a world view of humanity: humanism. We pursue the good of humanity, and become good people doing good works, devoid of the joy that such a good life should engender. We do good works for the sake of good works and good appearances to our peers.
So, just what is it that is troubling us? God placed a consciousness in our very human nature. We are aware that things are not right without anyone having to tell us. We are aware that something (God) is missing in our lives and we desperately try to fill that void with anything. Philosophy, alcohol, drugs, people, exercise, work, family, and for some, church activities. But all that does is deaden our feelings and emotions and harden our hearts. God is the answer. He made the way through His son, Jesus.
He is the Creator and He gives life. Jesus said, "I come to give you life, and on top of that, abundant life!" Not a depressed existence. Paul the Apostle said, "He quickens our mortal bodies."
John 10:10 (NKJV) "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."
Romans 8:11 (NKJV) "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you."
To submit to God is to crucify the old life. When you ask Jesus into your life, you're giving up. He becomes Lord and you become a new creation. The more you submit to this new life, the more you change. It's a metamorphosis.
Ask Jesus (who is God in the flesh) to expose your sin and cleanse you with His sacrificial blood. Let His forgiveness fill your heart with His Holy Spirit, who comforts us with true comfort and teaches us. Let His Presence fill your being with His light and bring forgiveness and healing!
You see, life here is temporary. Life there is eternal. Are you prepared?
1 John 2:15-17 (NKJV) "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever."
