Dead Man Walking

What is the solution to this flesh that deceives me, that entices and misleads me? How can I live in victory over my flesh?

Paul tells us,

"But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts."Romans 13:14

What does it mean to "put on the Lord Jesus Christ"? Do I wear what He wore, do what He did, act like He acted? How do I walk His walk?

In the past, when prison wardens would walk a man on death row down a corridor, he would shout "dead man walking", as if to say that this man, because he had a death sentence, was considered already dead.

Jesus said, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me." Luke 9:23

The cross was a Roman method of execution. The criminal would carry his own cross, demonstrating to all around that he was going to his death. He was a dead man walking.

Could this be how I am supposed to "put on the Lord Jesus Christ"?

Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Romans. 6:11

"for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live." Romans 8:13

"Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is on account of these things that the wrath of God will come, and in them you also once walked when you were living in them." Colossians 3:5-9

"For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus's sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh." 2 Corinthians 4:11

With each passing year, I become more and more convinced that in order to walk in the Spirit, I must crucify the flesh. It is the only solution. I must be constantly dying to self. I must consider my flesh as dead. I must carry around the death of Christ in my body. Everyday I wake up with a death sentence; I am a dead man walking. The more I pamper the flesh and try to keep it alive, the harder it is to face the firing squad.

I've never known a more persistent and proud foe than that of my very own flesh. It absolutely wants nothing to do with death, refuses to be sent to the executioner without some kicking and screaming. And just when I think I've slain the beast, it rises up again.

Oh, and let's not forget the tests the Lord especially designs for me, that are meant to see what is in my heart and to humble me in those times when I become too confident, proud or complacent. (Deuteronomy 8:2) Those trials have a way of showing me just how alive and kicking my flesh really is.

The good news is, that unlike the man who has been sentenced to death, who walks the hall to his execution, who has no hope, we are not without hope. Our death sentence carries a certainty of life along with it. We are dead to sin, but alive in Christ.