Monsters from the Id ∙

Monsters from the Id ∙

I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead – Philippians 3:13

Philippians 3:3-11

 3 For we who worship by the Spirit of God . . .We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort,

 6 I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault.

 7 I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done.

 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ

 9 and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.

 10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death,

 11 so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!

Forbidden Planet, a science fiction film made in 1956 was a remarkable precursor of contemporary science fiction cinema. In the movie, a mysterious, destructive force is at work. It reeks death and ruin wherever it goes. Eventually the puzzle is solved. The mysterious destructive force turns out to be created from within sentient beings themselves. Monsters from the Id are responsible. The Id is a term used to describe the uncoordinated instinctual desires that are the elementary basis of the subconscious mind.

Without a relationship with the Father God, we are missing the key ingredient of spiritual health and vitality. The Father designed us in such a way that we are only fulfilled and content when He is actively involved at the core of our beings. Without Him we are left solely on our own. Many of us are very much aware of our dark side. But for others, it is way too easy to block out the fact that they possess a dark side and can be plagued by monsters from the Id.

The apostle Paul was a strange mixture of humanity at its best and its worst. When it came to righteousness that could be achieved through human effort, he was near perfect. And he was proud of his achievements. But when it came to righteousness which God alone offers, Paul was totally deficient. In fact, apart from the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, Paul saw himself as the greatest sinner of all time.

1 Timothy 1:15 This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”- and I am the worst of them!

He had deep regrets. Upon reflection he undoubtedly experienced tremendous guilt and shame for his skewed, warped thinking and the havoc it had caused. But everything changed when he came face-to-face with the Lord Jesus Christ. As Paul walked with the Lord Jesus Christ, he had learned the open secret of how to overcome regrets.

He did a mental calculation and decided that all the things from his past, things that were great achievements, and also by things that haunted him, were rubbish, garbage, and waste. Paul decided that his own base subconscious memories and desires, would no longer be given free rein. He learned to bring them under control.

He made a conscious choice to lay the past aside and seek a deep, personal, intimate relationship with the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ. His focus was no longer pursuing personal success in this world and obtaining the things which it offers. Rather he sought to know and experience the Father.

Philippians 3:8-10

 8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,

 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,

 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.

REFLECT & PRAY

Dark memories from the past are haunting. We can either empower and nurture them or disavow and revoke their power and influence over our lives.

Father, my nightmares sometimes haunt me, my own personal “monsters from the Id.” I long to be free. Through your mighty power, I choose to disavow and revoke their oppression and tyranny.

INSIGHT

The Greek word translated as count is hegeomai. Hegeomai literally means to lead or go before, go first, lead the way. However, metaphorically, it means deciding after weighing the facts or circumstances, consider, think, develop an opinion, regard, esteem, or reckon. Or as Bob Dylan would say, “Change your way of thinking.”

Paul’s decision involved careful calculation. Emotions, good or bad, were not part of the equation. It was not made in an impulsive moment. After great reflection upon the truth which Paul now had, he decided where he was going to take his stand and stood fast. He never had to look back again. His eyes were fixed on what lay before him.

Luke 9:62 Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.

The Father had invited him to participate in His kingdom work. His present and future were now defined by Paul’s earnest desire to fulfill his calling.

Paul had learned by trial and error, how to enter into a deep friendship and fellowship with the Father. He was no longer seeking righteousness. Rather he had received righteousness as a free gift through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

He, who was once the chief of sinners, is now a determined, devoted bondservant of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Greek term translated as rubbish or dung (KJV), is skubala. It has two basic meanings. In everyday language, it meant the waste which is thrown to the dogs. In medical language, it meant excrement.

Are you haunted? Perhaps, it is time for a personal evaluation of your past failures and achievements. And once and for all put the past behind you. In the end, you like Paul, will gain far more than you lose.

Ultimately, this is the Father’s provision to extinguish the haunting monsters of the Id.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 6-08-2

© Dr. H 2022