Rat infestation

If you were in bed and you saw a rat crawl across your floor you would:

A. Gently whisper.."it's okay, come here little buddy, don't be afraid, and make it a pet.

B. Run to the kitchen and get some cheese and then drop it all around your room, so the rat will bring it's family and have a feast!

C. Jump up, turn lights up and try and find it and immediately figure out how it got in and make sure it's out before going back to bed!

Friends I am sure most of us would answer the above question with "C."  There is no doubt that I would search everywhere until I got the rat out and then keep one eye open all night and call exterminator in the morning!  Yes, it does sound absurd to think anyone would answer the question with "A" or "B," yet, if you consider that as believers in Christ "sin" is really like a "rat" that has breached our safe place in Christ. It steals our peace, destroys fellowship, and is extremely destructive!  The Bible is clear how we are to respond to sin when we see it.  Colossians 3:5-6   "put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. "  Pretty straightforward! The Apostle Paul is exhorting us not to take a passive attitude toward "sin" in our own lives. Rather, we are to recognize it, reveal it (expose it) and rid ourselves of it! Yet, sadly, many believers in Christ have exchanged their freedom and liberty that comes from obedience to Christ, for a shackled, rat infested dungeon of doom!  How? They compartmentalize their lives. They allow "socially acceptable" sins to permeate their souls! It's the equivalent of just giving the rats free reign of your house!  Yes, it is true that even the best attempts at keeping rodents away can sometimes fail.  Yet, we don't ever stop trying do we?  As believers in Christ we also are quite aware of our sinful tendencies, and sin nature, yet we must never just give in and stop waging the war! Romans 8: 37, " in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."  Paul goes on to say in Colossians 3 "Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.  Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming."  Friend whatever "sin" that you are struggling with, keep fighting the good fight! How? Read James 4:7-8! God bless us all as we fight the good fight in Christ! Thanks for letting me share, Randy Young