I have been trying to get my steps back up to where they were prior to my surgeries. It’s a slower process than I expected. For the last week, I’ve been hitting about four miles. I was at five miles before July 17. Part of that five miles was a morning two-mile worship walk after breakfast.
Lately, however, the Treasure Valley has been blanketed with smoke from the fires across the west, and it’s been hot (no other way to say it!). That has driven me indoors at a local mall for my morning walk. Unfortunately, walking inside this mall isn’t very pleasant.
Decades ago this local mall used to be “the place to go.” Over the years it has deteriorated. The big box stores have all moved out and now the mid-sized ones are also gone. The mall needs lots of renovation, and a new air filtering system. Each time I walk there I am aware of the stench of that old building. This mall is dying.
As I walk, I hear James’ words … “each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” [James 1:14-15 NKJV]
Whenever we fail to deal with sin, it causes something in us to die and death always produces a stench. It produces a stench in a building left to decay, and it produces a stench in a life. Sin initially may be regarded as “grand fun” but if left unrepented it produces darkness, addictions, sorrow, isolation and finally, death.
Thankfully, as John the Beloved promises, there is a cure for sin and an antidote to death. “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 NIV]