QUICKLY REMOVING IMPURITIES
Psalm 139:1-2
“Lord, you have examined me and know all about me. You know when I sit down and when I get up. You know my thoughts before I think them.”
The water looked perfectly fine. I wouldn’t have taken a drink from the little pond, but for animals it seemed OK. But one day the landowner walked to the small pond and near the pond he found 4 deer… three of which were bucks. As he searched the area he found more dead deer. Some of the best bucks that had been showing up on his trail cameras were now dead, laying rotting in the woods and on the edge of tee water.
What was it that was mysteriously killing off the deer in the area. Upon further inspection it was discovered that the deer were dying from EHD (Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease). EHD is a viral disease of white-tailed deer that is transmitted by tiny biting midges, also called no-see-ums.
The midges are almost too small to see but their bite is almost always deadly to deer. I have seen the results of an outbreak of EHD and it is a sad sad thing to witness.
What happens with these deer is a model of what can happen in the Christian life, when we allow small, seemingly unimportant and insignificant things to find their way into our lives. Often times these little things are sin issues and if we allow them in they can destroy a ministry, a church or a personal Christian walk.
Once we’ve allowed something small and sinful in we must deal with it… and deal with it quickly. The longer we allow even the smallest sin to take hold it can destroy us.
The miniscule insect that causes death to so many deer enters through the nasal passage. If the deer were to sneeze or blow, when it felt the insect in the nose, it could be expelled and the deer would be unaffected by the little creature. The same is true of sin.
1 John 1:9 tells us that we have a choice and if we make the right choice by confessing and turning from the sins that try to get in, then God will forgive us that sin and restore our close relationship with Him.
"If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).
We must be careful how we conceal sin, it will eventually catch up to us and will destroy our lives and testimony if not cleansed by God's forgiveness.
The smallest sin, left unchecked, can do massive damage and destruction. It must be dealt with quickly and effectively.
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