Of Mice and Men

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 NIV

I detest mice. They are sneaky, small, and dirty. I really get mad when they think they are free to come into my house, un-invited. I have traps set in five places. That would mean nothing to a mouse that is outside, but to a mouse in the house it is sure death.

These thoughts made me think of other things that sneak into our homes and lives un-invited. The biggest one is sin. Often times sin creeps in, comes into little holes in our homes (hearts). Frequently, it can build a nest and we have not detected it. It has moved in and has become comfortable. We tend not to notice since it is so small. Then we begin to notice things. Like little 'droppings' left in its wake.

Now, the little critter didn't come in to destroy things completely. It only came in because it is getting cold out, and food is becoming less available. I would choose warmth and comfort over cold and hungry. I must say, I like to be comfortable and I am good at finding food when I am hungry. I doubt there is a single one of you out there that would disagree. So too does this little rodent.

How does this little ball of destruction get into the house? I live on a farm in an old farmhouse. We have no insulation in the walls. It is the old plaster and lathe walls with horsehair holding it together. There are holes in some of the corners, in the laundry room in particular. It is at the back of our house, and about 25 feet away from that room is a corn field and hay field. It isn't to hard for them to scoot around the nine farm cats we have and slip into the house.

The same is true with sin. It often comes in seemingly undetected. It is so small no one seems to notice. Matter of fact we sometimes do not notice for quite a while. Then, we begin to notice little things (droppings) left in its wake. We are not sure where it is hiding, or how it got in. All though occasionally we do leave a door open, and invite it in.

Now, with the five mousetraps I have set, I am determined to get every last one out! I wonder how that heart thing is going. Am I checking every corner for signs of droppings? Am I guarding my heart and not allowing any sin to sneak in? What about you? Is sin having a time of warmth and harvest right under your very nose? Are you allowing it to hide in corners and eat freely from your bounty?

Dear God, please help me to always be watching and guarding my heart against sin. Help me to recognize is for what it truly is, and help me to stop it in it's tracks with Your help. Amen.

Becki Reiser