Have you ever noticed buildings with ivy growing on the walls? They are beautiful and reminiscent of an old English garden, softening the hard edges of the building. But did you know that ivy can be very destructive to the wall? As it grows, it roots itself in the cracks and crevices of the wall leading to structural damage. It may be nice to look at but is slowly weakening the wall.
Sin can have that effect in our lives as well. Sin is usually appealing – it makes things look better than it may truly be. It seeps into the cracks and crevices of our hearts, minds, and lives creating structural damage. How many times have we justified behavior we know is not best for us because the temptation was appealing? Do we recognize the impact it can have on us and those we love? Over time, sin will slowly weaken our defenses and cause damage we may not realize until it is too late.
The best way to remove ivy is to cut it down to the base and then attack the root. It may take numerous treatments to fully remove the root and keep new growth from forming. We need to handle sin the same way! It’s not enough to simply avoid it, we will have to dig the root out and be aware of signs of new growth. Why does it appeal to us? Where does it normally grow? What other issues could it be covering up? It will not go away in a single attempt; we must continue to tend to the root issue until we are clear it is no longer an issue.
The good news is God equips us through the Holy Spirit to win the war! We can trust Him to show us where the damage is and what is at the root of it. We are also encouraged and equipped to live healthier lives in the absence of the sin growth. He is faithful to reward our attempts to resist temptation and continue fortifying our foundation with His truth. Is it time to dig up some roots? We’ve got this!
Be blessed!
Jennifer
“For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.” 1 Thessalonians 4:7