Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10
.
We often fall into sin by such small degrees, that we don’t realize where we are or how we got there. It’s much like having a pebble in your shoe. It’s a little uncomfortable, and you wish it wasn’t there, but not enough to stop and remove the pebble, taking precious time to loosen the laces and shake the shoe out. Instead, we wiggle or shake our foot and move the annoyance to the side where it doesn’t hurt – at least not with every step. Once in a while it gets right under your heel and stops you cold in your steps, but only for a moment. With a quick shake it moves to the side and you’re off again.
.
Sin befalls us that way, too. It starts in our life as something that makes us a little uncomfortable, but we shake it to the side and let it be. Every once in a while it stands up and stares us in the face, but we move it aside again and convince ourselves that it isn’t big enough to take the time to remove. Only, it never really goes away – it’s still there, just in a less bothersome place. And the affects of it grow greatly when we bruise our heel or little toe – then it becomes more and more distractive – yet, at the same time, it becomes more and more familiar. And even though it can be quite uncomfortable, we know we would miss the little annoyance that gives us thought throughout the day. After all, it’s just a little pebble. We can toss it out any time we want. Or can we?
—
Written 11-22-2001
.
Linda J. Humes 