Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
“No more let sin and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground!”
— verse from the hymn “Joy to the World”
Quay County is infested with goatheads and sandburs that are moved around on tires and people’s shoes. However, very safe and effective herbicides are available to kill weeds as they germinate or after they emerge aboveground if the label is followed. So there are preventive and curative measures to stop the spread of weeds, including goatheads and sandburs.
The ground has been weed-infested since Adam first sinned (Genesis 3:17-18). Goatheads and sandburs are especially like sin, having a thorny or spiny nature that helps them stick to you with far-reaching detrimental effects on the “carrier” and, possibly, those around them (we all know people who’ve been pierced with sorrow because of the actions of others).
Humankind still has a predisposition to sin (Romans 3:23; James 1:13-15). But sin is largely preventable for Christians with God’s help (Romans 8:8; 7:14-25; 1 Corinthians 10:13). First, like preventive weed control, God’s word helps us understand what sin is to avoid it (Romans 7:7-13; Galatians 5:16-21). We must follow the word for it to be effective in preventing sin, though (1 Timothy 4:16; 2 Timothy 2:15-16; 3:16-17; John 6:45; 17:17).
Second, God helps Christians prevent sin by prayer when temptations arise [Mark 14:38: Hebrews 4:12-16; Matthew 6:9-13 (remember, God doesn’t tempt us or cause us to be tempted; when we study the entire Bible, we understand the model prayer asks God to lead us in the path of righteousness, rather than the alternative path of temptation – Psalm 23:3; 19:7-14)]. The path of righteousness includes wise choice of companions, although we’re to still try to lead non-Christians to Christ (1 Corinthians 15:33; 5:9-10; Matthew 28:18-20).
God also provides the cure for sin and its long-lasting effects (Romans 6:23). In fact, to take advantage of the preventive measures described above, one must be cured of past sins — first, to receive the indwelling Holy Spirit to help them understand God’s word sufficiently and to help with prayer in time of need (Acts 2:36-39; Galatians 3:26-29; 4:6-7; Romans 8:1-2, 9-17, 26-27; 1 Corinthians 2:13-16). Then, striving to live as God’s child, when we do sin, and we will, the cure of forgiveness remains for the asking (1 John 1:5-10; 2:1-6; Hebrews 10:19-23; Matthew 7:7-8).
Have you obeyed God’s word to be cured of sin [1 Peter 1:22-25; 3:21 (that “pledge of a good conscience,” in some Bible translations, is actually from God for those who “appeal for a good conscience,” as stated in more literal translations, as they call on his name; Romans 10:8-13; Acts 22:16)]?
Any time, even at the New Year, is the best time to get cured of past sins so you can avoid their consequences, but you must do your part to resist future temptation (2 Corinthians 6:1-2; James 4:7-10; Romans 6:1-22; Genesis 4:7).
It’s also a good time to apply preventive weed control against goatheads and sandburs because, like temptations, they’re always crouching at the door. “No more let sin and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground!”
Happy New Year!
Leonard Lauriault is a member of the Church of Christ in Logan who writes about faith for the Quay County Sun. Contact him at [email protected]