After we strip off the
old personality, we need to keep it off. In this article, we will first learn
how we can strip off the old personality and why this is so important. We will
see that it is possible for someone to make big changes in his or her life no
matter how involved he was in doing wrong things. We will then discuss that those
who have been in the truth for many years can do to keep off the old
personality. Why do we need to discuss this? Well, sadly some who once served
God have not continued to be careful. They have started to think and act as
they did before they knew God. Each of us needs to remember this warning: “Let
the one who thinks he is standing beware that he does not fall.” 1st
Corinthians 10:12.
What would you do if
you realized that your clothes were dirty and smelly? You would take them off
as soon as you could. In a similar way, if we realize that we are doing things
that God hates, it is urgent that we change. Speaking of such wrong practices,
Paul said: “once God have not continued to be careful. They have started to
think and act as they did before they knew God. Each of us needs to remember
this warning: “Let the one who thinks he is standing beware that he does not
fall.” 1st Corinthians 10:12
What would you do if
you realized that your clothes were dirty and smelly? You would take them off
as soon as you could. In a similar way, if we realize that we are doing things
that God hates, it is urgent that we change. Speaking of such wrong practices,
Paul said: “You must put them all away from you.” Let us consider two of these:
Sexual Immorality and uncleanness.
Sexual immorality
includes sexual relationship between any persons other than a legally married
husband and wife. Paul said that Christians must “deaden their body members”
when it comes to sexual immorality. This means that we need to try very hard to
get rid of wrong desires. Dong so can be difficult, but we can succeed.
Uncleanness, In the
bible, “uncleanness” includes much more than sexual immorality. It can refer to
things like smoking or telling dirty jokes. (2nd Corinthians 7:1;
Ephesians 5:3-4) It can also refer to bad things people might do in private,
such as reading book that excite them sexually or viewing pornography. These
things may lead to the unclean practice of masturbation.
People who regularly
view pornography develop “uncontrolled sexual passion” and may become addicted
to sex. Researchers have noted that addiction to pornography is similar to
addiction to alcohol or drugs. So it is no surprise that the habit of viewing pornography
has harmful results. These can include
deep feeling of shame, being less productive at work, unhappy families,
divorce, and even suicide. After one man had been free of his addiction to
pornography for a year, he said that he could finally respect himself again. For
many people, it is a real struggle to stay free form pornography. But this
struggle can be won.
Some people get angry
very quickly and say cruel insulting things to other. When this happens, their
whole families suffer. A father from Australia named Stephen used to swear a
lot and would get very angry over small things. He says “My wife and I were
separated three times and were in the process of getting divorced.” Then, they
began to study the bible with the witnesses, and Stephen tried to apply what he
was learning. He says that before he knew Jehovah, he would get so angry whenever
something annoyed him that he felt like a bomb that could explode. But after
Stephen began to follow the bible advice, things got better.
The bible warns us to
avoid getting angry, speaking cruelly to others, and screaming. (Ephesians
4:31) These things often lead to violent acts. Today, many in the world think
that angry, violent behavior is normally. But behaving this way actually
dishonors our creator.
Lying is another part
of the old personality. For example, many people lie in order to avoid paying
taxes or to avoid taking responsibility for their mistakes. But Jehovah is “the
God of truth” and “not of lie.” Clearly, we must tell truth even if it is embarrassing
or difficult. –Proverbs 6:16-19