story by: lisa petrarca
My son had a terrible toothache, off and on for years. He was over 18, so unfortunately I couldn't make him go to the dentist...which he was deathly afraid of. But what he didn't realize was that below the surface, it was being eaten away, little by little. When the pain would subside for several months, everything was great, but suddenly the aching and throbbing would get worse, forcing him to face the fact that once again, there really was a problem.
Eventually, it became so severely infected that he had no choice but to go to the dentist. Unfortunately, it was too late to save the tooth. He'd waited too long to take care of the problem. Now it was going to have to be removed and a bridge built, costing him more money than if he had originally taken care of the problem at the first sign of symptoms.
Our life is often like a toothache. We let sin slowly eat away at our insides. Small things at first, things that we can justify. Things that we think aren't really a problem that needs attention. But slowly, it starts to take root, take hold of us, deeper and deeper at our core. The sin will often flare up, causing trouble, hurt and anger with loved ones or friends. But we push it down and continue on, not addressing the problem. But it's there, rotting inside of you.
You don't realize that you need to go to the source that can take that sin away from you, just like a dentist can remove a toothache, the forgiveness offered from our Savior Jesus Christ can remove sins grip. It's simple and costs nothing. Take the first steps, begin by praying, ask for forgiveness and ask the Lord to help you to overcome the sin. Then spend time daily, talking to Him, as you feel yourself becoming weak in a certain area, PRAY and read a scripture in the Bible (medicine to remove the ache of sin.) The Lord is faithful to answer, but you have to take the first steps and go to Him. Don't wait until you feel you have no other options and you've lost all that once mattered to you. You can remove the pain. Get down on your knees today. He's waiting to lift you up and carry you. His love for you is unending, HE CAN AND WILL MAKE ALL THINGS NEW.
2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"
Ephesians 1:7 "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace."
Ephesians 2:1 "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when were were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved.
Jeremiah 15:19-21 "Therefore this is what the Lord says: If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman. Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them. I will make you a wall to this people, a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to rescue and save you," declares the Lord. "I will save you from the hands of the wicked and redeem you from the grasp of the cruel."
