NOVEMBER 14, 2012
Nowhere
To Hide
Read: Genesis
3:6-13,22-24
To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own
blood. —Revelation 1:5
I
smelled something burning, so I hurried to the kitchen. Nothing
was on the
stove or in the oven. I followed my nose through the
house. From room to room I
went, eventually ending up downstairs.
My nose led me to my office and then to
my desk. I peeked beneath
it and there, peering back at me with big eyes
pleading for help,
was Maggie, our dog, our very “fragrant” dog. What smelled
like
something burning when I was upstairs, now had the distinct odor
of skunk.
Maggie had gone to the farthest corner of our house to
escape the foul smell,
but she couldn’t get away from herself.
Maggie’s
dilemma brought to mind the many times I have tried to
run away from unpleasant
circumstances only to discover that the
problem was not the situation I was in
but me. Since Adam and Eve
hid after sinning (Gen. 3:8), we’ve all followed
their example. We
run away from situations thinking we can escape the
unpleasantness
—only to discover that the unpleasantness is us.
The
only way to escape ourselves is to stop hiding, acknowledge our
waywardness,
and let Jesus wash us clean (Rev. 1:5). I am grateful
that when we do sin,
Jesus is willing to give us a brand-new start.
From the wondrous cross on Calvary
Flows the stream that still avails,
Cleansing hearts and bringing victory
Through that love which never fails. —Elliott
Sin’s contamination requires the Savior’s cleansing.
Source:
Our Daily Bread 2012
