DAN’S PET SIN

By Michael K. Farrar, O.D.

© GOD’S BREATH PUBLICATIONS

www.godsbreathpublications.com

 

Galatians 3:22

“But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin.”

 

Sin originates from the fleshly desires that live within our own heart. The more we entertain, court, seek and dabble in our fleshly desires the more they will dominate our lives. Often opportunities for choosing sin seem innocent and attractive. Later as sin is fully birthed the ugly poisonous nature of sin manifests itself to overwhelm and spread death throughout our life.

 

We are slaves to the sin in our lives before we accept Christ as our Savior. We may not be aware of sin’s power over our life but it is true just the same. After we are saved, sin can still impact our lives as we strive to grow spiritually and die to the sin that so plagued our life before. Only through the saving blood of Jesus Christ can we be purified and saved from our sins. Only by relying on the Holy Spirit and obeying God’s Word can we overcome the sin that lives within our fleshy nature. Temptations that can lead to sin present themselves every day. They often lay waiting for us in the most obvious of places, looking innocent and appealing.

 

One day Dan was walking down the street in Anytown, USA and there lying on the steps of a local business was the cutest little creature he had ever seen. Dan went in the store and asked about it. The owner shared that he had no idea who it belonged to. He said it was a pest and came and sat on the steps everyday as if waiting for someone specific to come by. He felt that even though it appeared friendly enough there was something about it that gave him the shivers. He sensed when he looked into its eyes that it was pretending. He hoped someone would take it away so it wouldn’t bother him anymore.

 

Dan had always been warned about picking up stray animals, but there was something about this one that was almost irresistible. Possibly it was those large deep brown eyes looking up at him? Maybe it was how the creature’s fur looked and felt like soft black silk?  It might even be Dan’s own weakness for animals. Whatever the case Dan volunteered to take the creature home with him and take care of it. It would be his new pet.

 

The creature took to Dan like a duck to water. It snuggled up to him on his lap during the evenings and made comforting purring sounds. It ate whatever he gave it to eat and began to grow dramatically.

 

Several weeks went by and Dan’s new pet had grown substantially. He guessed it was at least five feet long and stood three feet high. Its appetite had grown proportionately and it was consuming large quantities of meat each and every day. The creature’s affection for him had also increased as well. As soon as Dan arrived home from work it would pounce on him and demand to be played with. Dan had no time to relax and spend time with any of his friends. He never went out anymore and was growing concerned about what his pet had become. Maybe the storeowner had been right? Something wasn’t right about this creature.

 

Two months went by and the creature was huge now. It was over seven feet long and four and a half feet high at the shoulders, when it was on all fours. The creature would often rear up on its hind legs and stand upright. It was a scary sight to behold. Long sharp fangs had grown within its mouth and they protruded like spears every time it ate. It began to smell like something dead and had completely taken over Dan’s house. Dan was a slave. He was now working double shifts to bring in more money to feed the creature. It was ravenous during meals, swallowing huge chunks of bloody red meat. Dan had tried feeding it discount-canned food but it wouldn’t touch it. He was worried. His life was consumed with the care and feeding of this creature. He lived and worked to provide for his horrible pet. Dan knew the storeowner had been right. Nothing was right about this creature.

 

Six months later, Dan’s house had a For Sale sign on it. The real estate agent had a hard time selling it; after all, when someone dies in a house people don’t seem very interested in buying it.

 

One day Mary was walking down the street in Anytown, USA and there lying on the steps of a local business was the cutest little creature she had ever seen. Mary went in the store and asked about it. The owner shared that he had no idea who it belonged to. He said it was a pest and came and sat on the steps everyday as if waiting for someone specific to come by, but no one ever did. He felt that even though it appeared friendly enough there was something about it that gave him the shivers. He sensed when he looked into its eyes that it was pretending. He hoped someone would take it away so it wouldn’t bother him anymore. Mary had always been warned about picking up stray animals, but there was something about this one that was almost irresistible. Possibly it was those large deep blue eyes looking up at her? Maybe it was how the creature’s fur looked and felt like soft white silk?  It might even be Mary’s own weakness for animals. Whatever the case Mary volunteered to take the creature home with her and take care of it. It would be her new pet.

 

James 1:13-15

“When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”

 

Romans 6:11-14

“In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.”