When one part of the body is broken we all are. We may not know the details, but we know that something is wrong, that something is not working as it sure.
At first, it is hard to recognize it. We don't call it for what it is. We call it "brokenness." And it is. It is so broken. Sooner or later, we need to come from behind the facade of brokenness and call it for what it truly is.
Sin.
Ouch. The politically incorrect word. The word we must avoid.
And yet, when we avoid it, it gets deeper and deeper. What once started off as something attractive, is now becoming destructive and rearing its ugly head.
Take this piano for instance. In its hay day, it was used to lead others in musical worship on Sunday mornings. It was a tool that led people into God's presence. It was valuable.
As time passes, the piano gets left behind. It is no longer tuned regularly, or taken care of properly. It can no longer serve the purposes for what it was created to do.
Much like our sin. Once it gets a foothold in our lives, it takes root. It holds on and begins controlling us and making us do things that are against God's word. We do thing that are not glorifying to God and will in the end hurt us and our relationships.
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Before we know it, the sin is getting bigger and bigger. It is becoming blatant and obvious to everyone around us. Sometimes we recognize is and sometimes it takes the words, observations and careful reflections of those who speak truth. Either way if we don't stop it, it start to control us rampantly. It is no longer just an ugly part of our life that is not bringing glory to God, but the ugly part is ruling our attitudes, thoughts and actions.
The gasoline has been poured.
The match has been lit.
Once the match is lit, everything catches fire,quickly. Even the parts that are not on fire are being affected. The wind blows, the air is filled with smoke, people are coughing, things are covered in soot. They may not even know where it all came from, or the cause of the fire, but they are surely being influenced by it. The fire cannot go unnoticed.
Before you know it, sin has overtaken, and we can no longer be what we were created to be.
We have been walking through some junk with some people. We have see sin take hold in lives and bring ruin.
Today, I became aware of my own incredible, nasty, destructive sin. It doesn't look quite as ugly as a burning piano, but I know how quick of a leap this can be. Lord, stop it now! May my life bring You glory. I don't want to walk in disobedience.
When I see the sin creep up in my life, I want to stomp it out and walk away from it. I will shout from the roof tops...
NO MORE, NOT HERE. I will do battle on my knees.
