Ever since Adam and Eve disobeyed God, all people are born with a seed of sin. I have it. You have it. We all have it. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

As a child, I am happy. I am free. The blood of Jesus covers my sins. As I grow older, I don't feel so free anymore. This seed is producing sinful thoughts and actions in me. I begin to feel uneasy. Sometimes I am confused or afraid.

Now What?

I am helpless to remove this seed. It is ugly. It grows fast. I am under Satan's control. Satan is the father of this ugly seed. Now he is my master. What can I do? I am torn. Part of me likes it; part of me doesn't. I can't control myself and my desires. Satan tells me I am free. He tells me about an exciting life just ahead. He says don't worry; have fun! Sometimes I believe him, but late at night when I am all alone, I know better. Unless I change, I fear I am headed for destruction.

Jesus is calling me. I pray to Him. Others pray for me. I confess my sins until I am weary. I try every way I can think of, but I can't change myself. My heart is sinful. I'm on the road to hell.

I'm at the End of My Rope

I’m at the end of my rope. Swinging, swaying, clinging, praying—I admit I am helpless. I need forgiveness. I ask God to forgive my sins. In my total helplessness, I let go and fall into the loving Savior’s arms. “Jesus, I give You my sinful heart, my efforts to reform, my past, my future.” Immediately He is there. What a sweet and tender presence! I can feel his gentle, nail-scarred hands as He washes my sinful heart clean. I am forgiven. No more fears or shadows. The warm sun shines on me as it did when I was a child. Now I am a happy child of God. Satan no longer has control over me. This kind Jesus who stands beside me is now in control of my life. I enter into the joy of salvation. What a beautiful, peaceful walk. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

But What Is This?

Oh, wretched me! I have sinned again. I still have the seed of sin in me. But there is a way. The quiet voice of Jesus tells me how to deal with sin. I remember what Satan used to tell me when I was caught in the trap of sin. He told me that I was a failure. How could I do such a thing? There is no hope for me now! I have sinned again. What can I do? I can try to reform, but that doesn’t work. I can excuse myself—it was because of my parents, my job, my nature, or another person. These thoughts are a delight to Satan. He wants to keep me from the remedy. Jesus is my only hope. He says, “Come!”

The Walk of Faith

So I come to Him. I admit I have sinned. I make no excuses. I do not try to make myself look better than I am. I tell him I have sinned. I plead for his forgiveness. I stand helpless before Him. I cannot wash myself. He gladly forgives and washes me. By faith, I know I am a child of God. I know his promises are true. In my heart, I accept that I am forgiven. This is the walk of faith. When I realize this, I praise God from a grateful heart. I was helpless. He set me free. Praise God!

I need to remember that Jesus died on the cross to pay for my sin. He delights in my need of Him. When I stay near to Jesus, Satan loses his power over me. Jesus promises, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

A life of faith gives me power to overcome the seed of sin. I thank God for his mercy and grace. I pray to Him and listen for his quiet voice. I find comfort and instruction in reading his Word, the Bible. I obey Him because I love Him. As I am obedient and faithful, Christian life is rewarding and fulfilling. Heaven will be my home.

Everyone worships something. Some people worship objects, some worship a man, some worship an image, and others worship themselves. They reveal their devotion to their god in various ways. As the multitude of these people give their devotion to these gods, there still remains a longing and cry in their hearts. These people are able to find only a temporary relief for the cry of their souls and have little courage to face tomorrow. To their disappointment the future is always the same as the past. The god they are serving is unable to fill the void in their lives.

Whom do you worship? Where does your god live? Is he alive? What did he do for you today? Did you talk with him today? Did he answer the cry of your heart? What do you believe?

Let me introduce you to the one true God who has conquered Satan, our greatest enemy. He is the God of creation, who spoke everything into existence. The Holy Bible will tell you of this God of heaven, who created man from the dust of the earth. Read Genesis, chapters one and two.

He is the eternal God. He has no beginning and no end. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is the Creator, Preserver and Sustainer of all things (Acts 17:22-34).

This great God who dwells in the heavens is also interested in you as a person. He sees you among the masses of people. He loves and cares for you. He wants to be more than your friend. He has sent His Son to be your Savior. He wants to live with you, and even more than that, He wants to live within you. He says, “Abide in me, and I in you” (John 15:4).

If He does not dwell in your heart, who does? By looking about us we can see that Satan is ruling and ruining the lives of the masses of people. He is the one who rules these hearts. He suggests all these evils such as lying, stealing, lusting, cheating, seeking revenge, and self-promotion. If Satan lives in your heart, and entices you to indulge in any of these sins and more, why not come to the God of gods who has given His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die for your sins and the sins of the whole world (John 3:16).

You ask, “How can this be true? How can One, who is so great, all powerful, and almighty dwell in my heart” (Isaiah 57:15)?

If you are sick and tired of sin, why not call upon God and repent. Through faith in God and by the atoning blood of Christ your sins will be forgiven and you will receive a new nature. Then when Satan comes to tempt, you will feel the presence of the almighty God. He will give you direction and teach you in all things (John 14:26).

In John 10:10, Jesus promises an abundant life and He is able to give it to you. This gift will be yours as long as you remain faithful and obedient to Him. “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land” (Isaiah 1:19). No other God is this great. If this speaks to your heart, you may want to read the tract: Ye Must Be Born Again.

There is a way of dress that complements the Christian and his high calling. Paul writes to the Philippians, "Only let your conversation [manner of life] be as it becometh the gospel of Christ" (Philippians 1:27). An individual's manner of dress is like a window providing a look into his heart. It makes a clear statement of his estimation of himself and reveals who is the master of his life. God's will is for the human form to be adequately covered, not displayed. The true disciples of Christ have always been known for their modest dress. 

Satan uses various methods to undermine God's standard of modest dress. There is apparel that is worn mainly as an ornament or for display, rather than simply as a covering for the body. The proud heart of man is gratified by fashionable and showy things. Proverbs 21:4 says, "An high look, and a proud heart...is sin." Suggestive attire draws attention to the human form and promotes lustful thoughts and desires. Clothing that fits tightly or insufficiently covers the body attracts attention, arousing the passions of the opposite sex, and contributes to immorality. It is especially alarming that many people profess godliness but show little regard for modesty and purity. Man is ignoring God's will in the matter of dress.

The words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 lay a scriptural foundation for humility in dress. "What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." Notice that the apostle does not say that a Christian may glorify his body. Rather, he is to glorify God in his body and in his spirit.

Writing to Timothy, Paul further gives the general principles of a Christian's dress. When addressing women, he writes, “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works" (1 Timothy 2:9-10). Peter also writes that women should shun "that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price" (1 Peter 3:3-4). "Putting on of apparel" means clothing other than that which is used for the sake of decency. There is a manner of clothing the body that is appropriate for the Christian. On the other hand, there is a type of clothing that is carefully chosen to draw attention to one’s self and leaves a different impression than that of a humble and sincere Christian. In Proverbs 6:16-17 we read that even a proud look is an abomination to God.

The fashions of the world are so alluring because they appeal to man's vain pride. Some people want so strongly to be identified with the latest trend that even their common sense is overruled and they become a slave of fashion. This is the sad condition of those who profess Christianity but do not embrace the Biblical principle of modesty and simplicity in dress.

Customs may vary from one culture to another, but most societies make some distinction between the clothing of a man and that of a woman.

Romans 12:1-2 is applicable to this subject. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." This is a beautiful invitation to offer our lives to the Lord in every way. While these verses do not refer only to the way of dress, they do suggest that a holy beauty will radiate from those who are surrendered to God's will. We are blessed when the attire of the physical body witnesses to the presence of Christ in our lives.