Recently we have been dealing with a simple little pest called fleas. One day they arrived in our home. First, they invaded our cat. Then they began chewing on our kids. I never dealt much with fleas. In northern cold country, fleas don’t do well. However, in the warm climate of Texas hospitality, they have tried to make our home their home. I discovered that these little critters have no wings, however they know how to jump. They are usually 1/16 of an inch in size. They love the blood of animals, and will stick to an animal like a bull rider sticks to his ride.
These critters can jump up to seven inches vertically, and horizontally 13 inches. Let me adjust that into human terms. If you were a flea, you would be able to jump over 160 feet high, and almost 300 feet horizontally. If you wanted to get to your back yard, you would be able to jump over your house and into the yard. The average life of a flea is about 100 days. They can live up to a year under the right conditions. A female flea will lay about 5000 eggs in her lifetime. Producing eggs every day.
So how do we get rid of these critters? We tried everything, and it worked for a little while, then the cycle begins again. One cat, Tiger our 26-pound Maine Coon, seems immune to the fleas, while the young one is constantly scratching. The older cat is like me. We both have sour diabetic blood so they don’t bother us. I discovered that fleas are like sin. Let me explain with a smile on my face. Unless you remove all of the fleas and eggs, they will come back. No trace of flea can remain. Not one egg can remain. Otherwise the cycle will begin again. Just like sin.
First, iniquity can consume us. The Bible is clear. “For the wages of sin is death;…” Romans 6:23a Sin’s final result, final destination, final effect is always the same. Death. You and I can’t cure sin. We can’t resolve sin. We can’t treat it with a special antidote. Sin is incurable.
Second, there is only One person who has the remedy for the sin problem. “but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23b The psalmist puts it this way “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.” Psalm 51:1,2
Third, why do we still have the iniquity problem? It keeps coming back like fleas. We stomp it out. Spray it out. Fog it out. However, it seems that one egg, one flea, one pest just seems to survive. Then we start the sin cycle all over again. Have you ever had that problem? You seem to conquer that habit, subjugate that compulsion, vanquish that desire, and just when you are about to proclaim victory over that iniquity, it pops up like a flea and begins to suck the life out of you. Well I have discovered that Jesus knows how to deal with the flea problem. He has promised that the flea problem will never rise up again. “What do ye imagine against the Lord? He will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.” Nahum 1:9
I am grateful that Christ has the final solution for the flea problem in our lives. Why then do we still have the iniquity problem? There is only one reason why the fleas of our lives remain. It’s us. We don’t like to let go. We hold on to that one iniquity, one vice, one sin. In order for the remedy to work, we need to give all to Jesus. We must accept His remedy for our iniquities. When we do, He will finally get rid of – once and for, all the fleas in our lives. The Bible says “And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” Jeremiah 31:34
“Here are some words of encouragement “There is but one power that can break the hold of evil from the hearts of men, and that is the power of God in Jesus Christ. Only through the blood of the Crucified One is there cleansing from sin. His grace alone can enable us to resist and subdue the tendencies of our fallen nature.” Evangelism p.601
“Our condition through sin is unnatural, and the power that restores us must be supernatural, or it has no value. There is only one power that can break the hold of evil from human hearts, and that is the power of God in Jesus Christ. Only through the blood of the Crucified One is there cleansing from sin. His grace alone can enable us to resist and subdue the tendencies of our fallen nature.” Ministry of Health and Healing.” p.246
May God bless you this Sabbath as He cleanse us from our iniquities
Angel J. Rodriguez, D.Min
Houston Central – Senior Pastor
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