White Knuckling Vs. Subdued by Grace

I want to share with you today something of which you are no doubt quite aware, yet it is good to remind ourselves of these things periodically. I'm referring to the futility of attempting to overcome our flesh through self-effort and determination of the will. We call this kind of gut-effort and sheer will-power "white knuckling it". The concept of "white knuckling" brings with it images of a man attempting to change his behavior or gain the victory over a bad habit, and though he is getting "clean" from it, he craves that from which he is turning. So through sheer self-effort (white knuckles) he grits his teeth and determines to avoid that which his heart truly loves.

The co-pilot with whom I flew this week was an interesting man. He said he has been smoking for over 13 years, but on the first day of our four-day trip, he informed me that he would stop smoking. I encouraged him and told him I was glad to hear it, and said I would be praying for him. Over the course of the next three days, he became the most miserable, jittery, short-tempered, foul-mouthed, angry person I've seen in a long time. He talked about cigarettes continually, recalling with fondness the "good old days" when he would run out of the terminal of an airport and smoke 2 or 3 cigarettes between flights.

Finally, on the last day of our trip, he informed me that he broke down and smoked a whole pack of cigarettes the night before, adding this tell-tale statement: "I didn't realize how much I love smoking until I went without it. Man do I feel better!" He also stated that he had quite a few drinks the night before, after telling me that he had not drunk alcohol in years.

Let's notice this familiar passage:

We notice that the man in the passage above had temporarily "cleaned house" but that the house was "empty". This is the condition of the one who "white knuckles" his way out of bad habits. He grits his teeth and through sheer determination and self-effort, he rids his life of that which he loves.

But we notice that the house in the passage above doesn't stay empty, or clean, for long. All kinds of wickedness moves back in with a vengeance, as if making up for lost time.

We see this happen time and time again, don't we? The lady who goes on a diet deprives herself of her favorite lover, food, for a time. She losses a few pounds, but because her heart loves that which her flesh craves, she is soon off her diet and making up for lost time.

A man who decides to "kick the habit" with gambling can avoid the casinos for a time, but while he is "clean," he is also empty. Something is missing. His heart is longing for that which he has temporarily given up. Watch his life over the next few days or weeks, and you'll see him rushing with a passion back into gambling, and he will usually add some form of wickedness onto the habit to which he is returning.

The "alcoholic" who becomes a "dry drunk", but does not learn how to intoxicate himself in Jesus Christ, often returns to his attempts to quench spiritual thirst by drinking alcohol. And when he returns, he puts on a binge that can last several weeks.

I knew a man who had been dabbling in pornography and self-gratification for a period of a few months when he decided to quit. But he was absolutely miserable during that time. The reason? He was craving his "pacifier" and screaming like a baby because he couldn't have it for a time. When he returned to his impurity, he dove headlong into it and it wasn't long before his previous "dabbling" became a present and severe bondage.

Give the devil an inch, and he will take over our lives!

What is the difference between the above situations, with people who were clearly "white knuckling" their way out of bad habits, and the biblical method of godly sorrow and genuine repentance from sin? Just this: God's grace!

Notice this passage:

We notice here that to be in Adam means to be under condemnation and death. Indeed the passage says that "death reigned" through Adam. Those who are not born again into Jesus Christ are dead in sins and trespasses. Indeed, death "reigns", as a king, in their lives. They submit to and obey King Death, doing as he commands, for they are his subjects and unable to escape his kingdom.

But those who receive God's grace and are born again come under the sweet power and influence of that grace. They are now happy and willing subjects of King Jesus, and grace begins to reign in their lives. Though they have godly sorrow over their previous sin, they have much joy in their present forgiveness, and they have much anticipation at the thought of spending eternity with Jesus Christ, anticipating sheer bliss.

Grace-what a sweet fragrance. It is the greatest theme in the Bible.

Abounding grace, wondrous grace, boundless grace, fountain of grace, unfailing grace, immeasurable grace, electing grace, matchless grace, overflowing grace, redeeming grace, pardoning grace, plenteous grace, unfailing grace, fullness of grace, efficacious grace, magnified grace, refreshing grace, sovereign grace, salvation by grace, grace rich and free!

And what amazing power God's grace contains! Notice Titus 2:11-14:

In this wonderful passage we see grace in a threefold aspect: grace that brings salvation; grace for holy living; and grace for service. This is the power of God's grace. It saves us, enables godly living, and empowers us for serving Christ.

But more, it actually changes the heart and the desires of the one who is being taught by it. This is the difference between those who "white knuckle it" and those who are subdued by grace.

And even more yet, it actually "reigns", as a king, in the lives of those who are bought by the blood of Jesus.

Grace woos us. Grace pursues us. And then grace subdues us. And the condition of this person, who has been won by grace, is one of delighting in freedom from past sins, joyous and happy to be worshipping Christ instead of idols, and pleasant and peaceful to be around. He is not "white knuckling" anything, but rather he is enjoying his Sabbath rest in Jesus' finished work on the cross.

Now this is not to say that there is no more battle to be fought against sin; indeed, the battle just begins when we are changed by grace. The flesh wars against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh, so that often we do not do what we want. We are truly in a battle. But now it is a battle in which we are empowered to fight by God's grace and enabled to win by God's Spirit. Though we stumble and falter, we now have all the resources of God Himself on our behalf: the power of His Word, the presence of His Spirit, the help of His body, even the ministry of His angels (Hebrews 1:14).

Oh what a difference there is in the life of those who are subdued by God's grace, versus those who white-knuckle it.

As I finished this letter, I walked outside the terminal to catch the bus to my car. Guess who was dragging on a cigarette with such passion I thought his cheeks would cave in. That's right, my co-pilot. My heart ached to see such tragic failure. He went from determining not to smoke any more on the first day of our trip, to being miserable, irritable, stressed and angry during the middle two days, and finally caving to his craving on the final day. Such is the story of those who white knuckle it and grit their teeth in their attempts to break free of bad habits.

Oh, to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be!
Let Thy grace, Lord, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to thee.

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it-
Prone to leave the God I love-
Here's my heart, oh take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.

I will close this writing to you with the testimony of a man who is being subdued by grace. This man had attempted suicide while in the midst of his sin. Compare, if you will, his life right now with that of the man with whom I flew this week:

Brian writes:

Brian, above, is not miserable, gritting his teeth and white knuckling it to a behavior change. No, he can hardly go to sleep, not because of insomnia, but because he "can't get enough of the gospel." This is the sweet subduing of God's grace.

Dear friend, may I encourage you to do as I am doing, and ask God for His sustaining grace, just as once you asked for His saving grace? He delights to give good gifts to His children, and will answer as we seek Him.

grace and truth,

Mike Cleveland

team member www.settingcaptivesfree.com

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