There’s a little bit of Jekyl and Hyde in all of us. The inclination to choose wrong over right is a persona battle everyone of us has had to fight ever since Adam and Eve made the original “bad choice” by opting out of paradise for nothing more than a lousy apple. It’s the classic struggle between grace and nature.
In his book, The Imitation of Christ, Thomas Kempis describes this classic struggle: “Carefully observe the actions of nature and grace, for both move in opposite directions and in such subtle ways as to be indistinguishable except by the spiritually enlightened.”
For instance, human nature always has its own advantage in mind. Grace seeks the exact opposite. “Grace is not concerned with its own profit,” Kempis writes,” but with what may benefit others.”
Nature loves to be honored and respected. “Grace refers all honor and reverence to God.”
Nature loves leisure. “Grace cannot be idle and gladly embraces toil.”
Nature is enchanted by rarities, luxuries and costly things. “Grace takes joy in humble and simple things . . .”
Nature loves to horde and clings greedily to its possessions. “Grace is kind and unselfish. . .and rightly judges that it is more blessed to give than to receive.”
When misfortune arises, nature is quick to complain. “Grace gladly bears poverty with constancy.”
Nature loves a crowd and boasts about its many friends. It likes to flatter the rich and impress the powerful. Most of all, it likes people who share the same opinions. “Grace loves even its enemies, and does not boast of having a large circle of friends. . .It favors the poor rather than the rich; and has more in common with the simple and the innocent than with the influential.”
Nature craves the secrets of its neighbors. “Grace cares nothing for the novel or curious.”
Nature thrives on the limelight, and wants to be noticed. “Grace teaches us to control our senses to shun all vain pleasure and outward show, and humbly hide anything that might win human admiration.”
These examples show us how mightily the two powers operate, each pulling us in exact opposite directions. The good news is that these two powers are not equal. Divine grace is the more potent of the two and is the only power than can conquer the human tendency toward choosing what is more pleasing to self rather than to God and neighbor.
So what do we do about it?
First of all, avoid every obstacle to grace, most importantly – sin. This is quickly followed by lack of forgiveness and resentment which can build a wall between us and grace.
Keeping the rest of our human nature in check is an area that requires a different kind of vigilance. For instance, we all have the tendency to let ourselves become consumed by inordinate desires. We want all kinds of things that we think will make us happy; money, status, comfort, luxuries. However, if we take an honest inventory of everything that we worry about in the course ofa day, we’ll find that most of the things we think are making us happy are exactly what’s causing us the most anxiety. The car, the mortgage, the clothes, the job. And if it isn’t one of these “things,” it’s people. This person is driving us nuts, that one just doesn’t care. If only we had a more loving spouse, more obedient kids, more cooperative employers. Without realizing it, we suddenly find ourselves enslaved to all kinds of illogical desires that are forever bossing us around.
When this happens, God fades more and more into the background. The world becomes our oasis, rather than eternity. We forget too quickly that all these things are passing – the money, the comforts, the pleasures – even the people.If we make the mistake of basing all of our happiness upon worldly things, when they go, so will our happiness.
Prayer for grace is the all-necessary step to take for those who wish to win the battle between grace and nature. “The body will complain,” Kempis warns, “but it will be overcome by fervor of spirit. Our ancient enemy, the devil, will tempt you and hinder you, if he can, but devout prayer will drive him away…”
For most of us, the difference between our Jekyl and Hyde isn’t much more than one blessed moment of prayer!
