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

Stand Still

Read: 1 Samuel 12:6-16

Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the LORD of all the righteous acts of the LORD, which he did to you and to your fathers.              

                                                                                                             1 Samuel 12:7

     Every summer, our church does a teen camp in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia. It is a beautiful place surrounded by trees, mountains, and wildlife. The one part of the wildlife that I’m sure every person there would love to get rid of is the gnats. They will not leave us alone. They feel the need to get in your eyes, your nose, your ears, and just about every other place they feel they can be the most annoying. It is hard to just stand still and enjoy the beauty around us because if we try to stand there for more than a second, a cloud of gnats will come and try to carry us away to an undisclosed location. One solution we have actually found quite effective is to tuck a dryer sheet into the collar of our shirts. It sounds crazy, but it works to help ward off the droves of angry pests who won’t leave us alone.

     There are many petty annoyances in life that do the same thing to us spiritually. The devil will do everything he can to keep us from just being still so we can hear the voice of God speaking to us. When we can stop, let the world stop around us, and be calm, then God can use that time to really deal with us as His children. That is why the devil tries to flood us with so many things to keep us busy. Most of those things are not even bad things, but they are enough to keep us from having the relationship with God that we need to have with Him if we are going to be spiritually successful. David said in Psalm 4:4, “commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.”

     To get rid of those annoyances, we need to come up with solutions to help us set aside the distractions that come between us and God. The most important thing is a fresh anointing of the power of God. If we can renew our commitment to serve God, then it gives us a goal to aim at and the motivation to make it work. On the practical side, we must purposefully set aside a time that cannot be moved when we meet with God. Early in the morning generally works best because the business of the day has not had time to crowd out that time we must spend with God. The morning is usually still and allows us the quiet time where we can hear the voice of God. Also, think about turning off the radio while driving, putting down the headphones while working, and turning off the television and internet in the evenings. Allow God to use that time to speak to you and you to Him instead of having so much noise that communication becomes impossible. Be still, and listen for God’s leading in your life.

Quote of the day: “Never get so busy doing the work of the kingdom that you forget who the King is.”

A Rebellious Witch

Read: 1 Samuel 15:10-24

       For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.

                                                                                                        1 Samuel 15:23

     Many people are duped by false religions. However, even most of them would agree that one of the ways to get the farthest away from God is to be involved in something that the devil has both of his hands in – witchcraft. The diabolical dealings of Satanic worship is a hideous way to live, yet God equates rebellion directly to the sin of witchcraft. Although anyone could fall prey to the sin of rebellion, teenagers seem to be the most susceptible to it.

     The whole idea behind the cultural revolution of the hippie movement in the ‘60s and ‘70s was the idea of rebellion against any type of authority. Rebellion has its roots in the belief that we are better than, and that we know more than, those that God has placed in authority over us. The outside of a person often reflects his heart, but regardless of what the outside portrays, rebellion flourishes in a soul steeped in self-importance and pride.

     How can you tell if you have an attitude of rebellion against authority? Well, do you have as little contact as possible with those in authority? Rebels tend to avoid their parents, youth pastor, pastor, etc., because those in leadership roles are those who the rebel feels are the biggest threat to his “individuality” and his unending desire to please himself. Do you have very little interest in spiritual things? Rebels often want nothing to do with church, holiness, or making decisions for Christ. Do you lack a smile, and often wear a look of disgust on your face? To the rebel, nothing humors them unless they came up with it, and their rebellious attitude often leaves them feeling depressed and low. Do the friends you hang out with push you away from godliness and toward the things of the world? You are inclined to be just like the people with whom you associate, and if theirs is an attitude of rebellion, then very likely yours is, or soon will be, just like theirs. Do you hate the rules and long for the day when you can finally be on your own and be free to live your life in any sensual way you please? That is the ultimate characteristic of a young man with a rebellious attitude.

     To get out from under the power of rebellion, you must first admit that you have a problem. Realize that those in authority know more than you do and that they have your best interest at heart when they correct you. Confess your rebellion to God and ask him to cultivate a new spirit within you that will be pleasing to Him.

Quote of the day: “By gnawing through a dyke, even a rat may drown a nation.”

                                                                                                                       -Edmund Burke