I had another visitor come by the window this past week. He kept on knocking and knocking on the trees of our backyard. It was a redheaded woodpecker. Several months back, one of our trees fell during a storm. The tree was a tall hardwood tree, and apparently had several holes that were carved out by the woodpeckers. Now they have come looking for their home, and it was gone. So Woody Woodpecker kept knocking and knocking on the trees looking for weak or dead spots on the trees to find insects, but most important, to build a nest.
The Redheaded Woodpecker grows from 7 to 10 inches long. It lives around 10 years. The females lay between 4 to 7 eggs. The incubation period takes 2 weeks. And for the most part, they nest during April and May. I am reminded that the woodpecker seeks weak spots, and once the weak spot is discovered, the woodpecker will knock and knock until the weak spot collapses and the nest is built.
I reminded of an enemy who seeks for weak spots to exploit the life of a Christian. He will knock and knock, looking for the weak spot. Searching here and there until finally one day the knock turns into a cave in. Once that happens, the enemy will focus its energies on the weakness to enter inside the tree. There are two sources of discovering our weaknesses. The first comes from the Holy Spirit. His goal is so we can give these weaknesses to Him, so that He can give us victory to overcome. The enemy on the other hand pecks at our weaknesses; his approach is by force or deception so that he can take advantage of us and break us down to follow a course that leads us further from God.
What do we tend to do with our weaknesses? One option that many take is to camouflage our weaknesses; we hide them in order that others don’t see, so that we give the appearance of strength. Another approach is that we fill the void with other things so that again our weakness doesn’t seem noticeable. An example of this is what Adam and Eve did when they came before the Lord after they had sinned against God. “And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.” Genesis 3:7 Any attempt on our part to fill or cover the weakness, doesn’t give us victory over the weakness. Victory comes from God alone.
When we try to fill our own void, with our own devices, it will lead to disaster. This is what Jesus was referring to in the Gospel of Matthew. “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.” Matthew 12:43-45 When you clean your own sins up, there is still a void. The only way to fill that void is by inviting Jesus into the house. When the enemy came back, he would have discovered that the house was clean and garnished, and sitting down at the welcome table was Jesus himself. He would have to move on because Jesus was in the house! How are you today? Are you trying to camouflage your weakness? Are you trying to clean your own sins? Are you even trying to deny that you have a sin problem? The Bible is clear. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 1:8-10, 2:1,2
Knock, Knock who’s there? Let Jesus answer the door, because He is already in the house. Here are some additional insights“The white robe of innocence was worn by our first parents when they were placed by God in holy Eden…. But when sin entered, they severed their connection with God, and the light that had encircled them departed…. Nothing can man devise to supply the place of his lost robe of innocence…. Only the covering which Christ Himself has provided can make us meet to appear in God’s presence. This covering, the robe of His own righteousness, Christ will put upon every repenting, believing soul…. This robe, woven in the loom of heaven, has in it not one thread of human devising. Christ in His humanity wrought out a perfect character, and this character He offers to impart to us. ‘All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.’ Isaiah 64:6. Everything that we of ourselves can do is defiled by sin. But the Son of God ‘was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.’ 1 John 3:5 {Mar 78.3}
May God bless you this Sabbath, as we surrender all our weaknesses to Him
Angel
Angel J. Rodriguez, D.Min
Houston Central – Senior Pastor
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