|
This past week, we discovered
termites in our church. The little bugs had been munching on
our floor joists, staircases, door frames, and wall studs in our
sanctuary. Can you imagine? While
we have been praising God, these little critters have been
devouring the very structure that houses our worship. They
are silent killers and hard workers. They have been doing
their thing for a while. They scouted around the pesticides
and found a way to penetrate our delicious church. In the
mean time, we have ripped them away. We have exterminated
them. We have torn their handiwork away and are in the
process of replacing the damaged sections of wall, floor, and
stairs. I would like to make a few observations about our
termite problem:
Termites are not the only destructive force than sneaks into
houses of worship. Personal agendas, grudges, selfish
motives, greed, apathy, laziness, despair, and pride are just a
few of the deadly pests that infiltrate the church and cause
damage without notice until it is too late.
Termites work collectively.
One termite can do little harm to a church or any building for
that matter. However, when termites group together or swarm,
they can destroy the most sacred and important of structures.
Like ants, they have workers, scouts, and a queen. They each
have their job and they work together to do their damage.
Sometimes, sins are like that too. When greed works
alongside fear and pride, all kinds of havoc can be wreaked in
God's kingdom.
Termites work behind the
walls, in the dark, and in secret. Isn't that the way it is
with sin? Our problems eat at us behind the facade of our
pretensions. Our hearts are being chewed out behind the
scenes. Things look ok on the outside, but on the inside,
many of us are struggling with addictions, temptations, and
problems.
Termite damage takes years to
be noticed. Many of our problems didn't develop overnight.
Rather, they were created over years of neglect. Obesity and
debt are the most easily recognizable long-term problems we face.
However, there are many other spiritual pests that plague our
churches because of long tenures. "We've always done it this
way." "Back when..." Sometimes fear uses the time-honored
traditions as its best defense. Likewise, alcoholics are not
made overnight, they are nurtured by the bottle. What sin in
you life as crept in and made a permanent home in your soul?
Termites work on the
structure, not the facade. A year or so ago, I was looking
in Tommy's patrol car and saw a poster used to deter people from
meth use. It tracked the physical changes to an attractive
young female over a period of about eight years. The first
few years of addiction showed some change, but by the last few
years, the damage was exponential in appearance. That's the
way it works with unresolved problems. By the time we
noticed the work of the termites (through the stair rail post),
they had already destroyed the floor and wall. Our sins
destroy our hearts, our mindsets, and our relationships, before
most people would notice the problem.
So, is there any good news?
Yes.
We have found the problem, so
now we are fixing it. In our own lives, once we identify the
problem, and find out how far the wounds are cut, we have the
opportunity for healing. I am no physician, but I know the
best. I know that Jesus can restore our broken souls as well
as some rotten wood at the Hartford First United Methodist Church!
Pastor Jack
3/1/2007 |
|
THOUGHT FROM THE HEART