The Invisible Destroyer

Read: 1 Samuel 16:1-13

…For the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.                        1 Samuel 16:7

     Termites are known as the “invisible destroyer.” This past summer, when I was putting new siding on my house, I also had to redo the plywood that was covering the studs under the siding. What I found in a couple spots amazed me. Though they were no longer there, termites had built tunnels and burrows through some large areas in the studs of my walls. What they left behind was weak, crumbly wood that had to be replaced. I would have known I had a problem with them if they were loud, like chainsaws, and I could have taken care of them before they did any damage; but, one of the reasons termites are so effective is that they silently destroy. Termites cause major property damage each year. While they are wreaking havoc on the inside, no one can tell from the outside until it is too late. The outside of the house looks perfectly stable, but it will eventually fall. It will ultimately be revealed that termites had been there all along – slowly, silently destroying.

     Sin is also an invisible destroyer. Young men allow things like bitterness, rebellion, dishonesty, pornography, or pride to enter their lives, and it immediately starts to silently destroy them. It may be noticeable to a few people who are close to them or who consistently deal with those issues in young men, but to most people, those things are easily hidden. As invisible as they are, however, they are still destroying that young man from the inside out. It may take months or years for the destruction to be complete, but, left untreated, those things will eventually cause that young man’s life to fall apart. Though he thinks it is hidden, it will one day be revealed to all.

     The sad thing about a home destroyed by termites is that it could have easily been prevented. There are many extermination companies that can come to the house, spray a few chemicals, and eliminate the termite invasion. End of story on the destruction. That is also the sad thing about a young man who allows a festering sin to destroy his life. It doesn’t have to happen. The problem is that many young men are too proud to admit that they have a problem, or they are too in-love with their sin to let it go, though they know it is causing their downfall. The solution is to spend time with God Who can convict them of that sin, and get help from a counselor who can who can reveal ways to get victory over the sin. Do not allow sin, the invisible destroyer, to pervade another day.

Quote of the day: “The most destructive sin in your life right now is the one you are most defensive about.” – Tim Keller