Mastering Your Dark Side

Watched Spiderman 3 this week. Will not go into details; don't want to spoil it for those who have not watched it.

_

But I thought it was the best Spiderman movie so far, with meaningful themes in the midst of the main storyline.

The most interesting thing to me was about battling one's dark side. A similar battle was fought and lost by Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars, with devastating consequences.

In the Bible, Cain faced the same battle, and God actually warned him against heeding that voice from his dark side.

GE 4:6 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."

_

Sadly, God's warning went unheeded, and the rest is history.

Reflecting upon this, it is very true that all of us fallen beings do have a dark side. Most of us do succeed in keeping it in check most of the time. But it has the habit of re-surfacing especially when things do not go the way we want, or when unpleasant incidents happen to us, eg when we are betrayed, hurt or let down by people.

In times like these, our "dark side" will almost encourage us to get mad, get even, seek the revenge that is due us; or to go for things that pleases us, to gratify our desires regardless of the consequences, even if it means hurting others or compromising our values.

Indeed, I think our dark side is basically a spirit of self gratification and rebellion that always goes against the ways of God.

Why do we struggle to contain it? Because our dark side is not only deceptive, but seductive as well. It often appears "cool" and exciting. It creates an aura of glamour about being a rebel, being bad. It grabs attention to itself, portraying rebellion & self gratification as dangerously exciting and attractive to others, esp the opposite sex. It promotes aggression and ruthlessness; and that the end always justifies the means.

_

It contrasts its "cool and rebellious" ways to the "dull and conformist" but sound values of goodness, tolerance, faithfulness and love.

(Not a coincidence that most viewers will find the black suited Spidey more "cool" than his traditional red and blue suit)

Above all, our dark side offers us the faster way of gratifying our fleshly desires; without rules, without restraint. It glorifies self indulgence.

I believe God knows what we are up against in this battle, hence the numerous teachings from His Word:

RO 6:11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. 14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.

RO 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

The more we succumb to our dark side, the stronger its hold on us, the uglier we become as a person. It will ultimately consume & destroy us.

_

But this need not be. Indeed "the greatest battle lies within" but we can consistently overcome our dark side with the Armour of God and with prayer. And in this Year of Victory, we will!