MAN’S RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

What happens when a man puts his fantasy world into practice? He either gives up, or he overcomes evil. There is no obvious reason for this; it is just the way the world is made. And what happens when a man resists evil, and persists in resisting evil, and finally begins to overcome evil? Personality dawns in him. I do not mean by this that character is strengthened when the blandishments of temptation are resisted. This may be so; but it represents a comparatively elementary exercise. What is more to the point is that when a man begins the attempt to eradicate his faults, (if he ever does), he may very well reach the stage when he begins to fear that his faults will master him: that he will lose the battle. It is one thing to resist when temptation is without; it is quite another thing when the temptation is within, and it is one's own mind and spirit and flesh which seem to be the tempters. What can a man do when he feels, rightly or wrongly, that he has been betrayed within? An effort of will may bring temporary victory over the fault; but the will cannot be kept tense indefinitely, and if the attempt is made it leads to nervous tension, and physical damage to the body. Then when the will relaxes, all the fruits of victory seem…