Ivan Pavlov turned from studying for the priesthood to science. While studying heart and blood circulation in animals, he developed his famous “dog-bell-food” routine that animals have natural and conditional reflexes. Our Century, 1900-1910, p 47
Valid science. He went beyond his depth, however, when extending the theory to humans. As rational, not instinctive beings, thinking rather than reacting, we live at a higher level than beasts. We do have natural responses, according to what we confront: fear, joy, surprise, shock, etc. And, as we know all too well, a fleshly nature that proves unconverted at the age of accountability by making wrong rational choices Ephesians 2:1-3. That’s why God demands the death of that nature by:
With every desire to submit when temptation calls, the Holy Spirit encourages us: “Jesus has made you NEW. You’re to be resistant to temptation until you conquer it, not until you submit to it.” Therefore, when resisting with Scripture, RESIST!; until temptation lessens:
Each time we hear its echo, RESIST with Scripture. The former result accrues. The more we resist with God’s Word at each echo, the less it grows into an alluring whisper. With enough practice, when the same temptation appears, beguiling us with, “It is I”, we’ll be empowered to say, “I know, but it is not I”. (With apologies to the likely fictitious story from Augustine’s life.)
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