By Rhonda Stinson
There is a 10-foot hedge in our front yard that grows larger each year. I decided it was time to cutback the out-of-control hedge. Thankfully, the limbs were thick enough for me to lean the extension ladder, climb to the top, and trim the upper portion. I noticed a mass of poison ivy covering the top layer so I was careful to keep my arms away from it. All was peachy until I reached a little too far and fell forward into the hedge!
Knowing that bathing in poison ivy was going to bring forth a cruel punishment, I cleansed thoroughly, hoping to escape its wrath. But it was too late. At first, there were a few dots of poison ivy. Before long, I was completely covered in the itchy rash. Nights ended up being a nightmare! It seemed the poison ivy became more vicious at night. I couldn’t help but scratch… which led to more scratching… which led to bleeding from scratching. I was in so much misery, I thought I might lose my mind. Thankfully, mom gave me a silky white long-sleeved sheer blouse to wear. It felt cool against my skin and kept me from scratching. I began seeing the spots disappear after about two weeks. What a relief!!
I recently heard a sermon about leprosy, which brought back the image of my poison ivy spots. Leprosy is a horrible disease. It affects the nerves, skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. Its sores can disfigure both skin and bones. Fingers curl, limbs twist, and noses collapse. Nerves become so damaged; a person is able to pick up a sizzling hot pan without flinching.
Like it is with leprosy and poison ivy, sin starts small and spreads. One lie leads to another. One look at a pornographic image leads to another. One purged meal leads to another. One cut on the arm leads to another. One drink leads to another. Each harmful act damages us, others, and our relationship with God. Sin grieves the Holy Spirit. I’m well-acquainted with grieving the Holy Spirit. When involved in eating disorders, I was unable to experience any kind of peace or true joy.
If you are involved in a cycle of sin, there is hope! God longs for us to experience peace, joy, and every spiritual gift possible. He desires a relationship with us and does not want us wasting time serving other gods (idols). He loves us with an unchanging love. And His love never wavers!
Just as that silky white blouse was balm to my skin, Christ’s spotless robe of righteousness can be a healing balm to you. Will you take action to relieve this disease? If so, here is God’s promise for you, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
“While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged Him, ‘Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.’ ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be clean?’ And immediately the leprosy left him” (Luke 5:12-13).
“Anyone with such a defiling disease must wear torn clothes, let their hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of their face and cry out, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ As long as they have the disease, they remain unclean. They must live alone; they must live outside the camp” (Leviticus 13:45-46).
“I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of His righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels” (Isaiah 61:10).
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