What if the most honest question you could ask today is simple: am I walking in the light or settling for a comfortable lie? We open Romans and confront the tension between the flesh and the Spirit, not as a theory but as a daily choice. “I have been crucified with Christ” becomes more than a verse—it’s an identity that changes how we think, love, and live.

We trace Paul’s argument from creation’s witness to the human tendency to trade truth for idols. Gratitude fades, hearts grow dark, and we start reshaping God to fit our preferences. That idolatry shows up not just in statues but in our screens, our relationships, our sexuality, and our politics. We address marriage and design, the chaos of self-invention, and the harm of pursuing desires that promise freedom yet hollow out the soul. Along the way, we widen the lens to include the sins we often excuse—gossip, pride, deceit, covetousness—because the debased mind isn’t a niche problem; it’s a human one.

Through all of this, the gospel doesn’t blink. Jesus bears judgment, breaks the power of sin, and raises us to new life. The call isn’t to perform for God but to surrender to Him: trust His finished work, cultivate gratitude, and walk in truth with courage and grace. Parents, protect your kids. Believers, speak clearly and love deeply. If the times feel stranger by the day, the remedy remains the same: the good news of Jesus Christ still saves, heals, and frees. Subscribe, share this episode with someone who needs hope, and leave a review to help others find the message. Then ask yourself: where will you choose light today?

Come On Up is the radio ministry of The Mountain Cross in Waynesville North Carolina. To learn more about us please visit: TheMountainCross.com.