I had connectivity issues with my computer last Saturday. Some websites loaded, but very slowly and not the ones I wanted. I rebooted the computer. Same problems came up. Then I thought it might be that I’ve installed too many applications on my computer, so I decided to uninstall them.
It took a long time. Things that only took 30 seconds to install, took about 5 minutes to uninstall. As I watched my computer struggling to get rid of these worthless applications, it constantly flashed messages to me to “have patience—this may take a while.”
I began to chuckle. While watching my computer struggling to uninstall, I saw my heart. The Scripture that immediately came to mind was Hebrews 12:1: “…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles….” [NIV]
Sin so easily installs in our hearts. It only takes a moment, a few seconds of a bad decision or choice and we’ve downloaded something worthless into our souls. The struggle to uninstall that worthless sin takes so much longer, but if left unchecked, it will slow us down and affect our connecting with our Lord. We must recognize its presence, confess and ask for forgiveness, and learn to receive cleansing from God. How much better it would have been to not have installed it in the first place!
1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
(Oh, and as for my computer. I went on a worship walk around the neighborhood and when I came back, it worked just fine.)
Father, thank you. Amen.
