Thus says the LORD: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD. (ESV) 

This is what the LORD says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the LORD. (NIV)

Y.F.O.L.O. …This has stuck with me.

There’s this cultural mantra, I’m sure you’ve heard, “YOLO” (you only live once). 

“Do what you want, when you want.” “Be the captain of your own destiny.” “Follow your heart.” “Go for it.” “Chase it.” “Get it while you can.” 

Christian culture has decided to fight against this idea with our own acronym: “YOLF”(you only live forever). 

But recently, I heard something new: your flesh only lives once. 

Reminding me of this: my flesh only lives once, but my spirit lives forever. 

Our flesh knows this is its one and only shot. It’s constantly reaching for pleasure and gratification. But our spirit, joined with Christ, will get a new body that will live forever. 

This is the war within us. A flesh that wants everything now, vs the spirit that waits patiently for abundantly more than we could ever ask. 

The world will tell you to redefine it as strength. But flesh is weak. 

YFOLO. So don’t trust it. 

God designed life in such a way that those who follow Him walk into abundance. Therefore, there is a natural consequence for those who let the flesh lead their lives: emptiness, wandering, curse.

You can follow your flesh, but the end will lead to death. Your flesh will lead you where you don’t want to be, take you further than you want to go, and keep you longer than you want to stay. Friend, don’t let that which is weak and foolish control your life. Don’t let what’s temporary determine your eternity. Don’t give control to what’s weak and fleeting.

Trusting in man will leave you wandering. And you’ll never wander into the Promised Land. You’ll only wander into the desert.

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. Galatians 5:13

Written by Blake Stanley