Big, hot, sloppy tears slid down my cheeks. What had happened? I couldn’t understand. I hadn’t experienced disappointment like this in a long time. I promise, we made huge efforts before we left on vacation. There was a timer, soaker hose and everything set in place in order to keep my beautiful girls alive. I had big hopes for healthy, fresh flowers all summer long from my dahlias. yes. Really big hopes.
But, on the evening we arrived home from our week-long beach vacation I realized we hadn’t taken something into account. I came home to find my dahlias wilted, yellow-leaved and shriveled up.
voles. My father in law had warned me a while ago to watch for quarter sized holes around the base of plants… if there is a hole, you may have a vole. If you have a vole down in your bed, underground, you won’t have much else for long. And he was right.
On searching, I found one of those very holes right next to one of my pretty girls. I tried the prescribed remedy – shoving a moth ball down the hole, but to no avail. It was too late. The vole had already eaten up most of the roots and tubers. I was left with only one of four plants.
and so, the tears.
On the surface, everything seemed fine… the vole, completely invisible to anyone looking at the garden. But, deep down in the earth, that vole was working away, eating to his heart’s content, stealing the vibrant life of my lovely flowers.
Later that week, I came to grips with a similar reality. No gritty, gory details here, but, I was experiencing a vole in my heart. It was a sin. Isn’t this just how sin works, like a vole, digging below the surface, initially unseen by anyone looking on? But, as I began to see it for what it was, I was so disappointed in myself. and then more tears from a contrite heart. How could I have missed it?
Now, I know this is an unattractive topic to discuss – I’m aware its not cool and fun. But its true. Sin always brings disappointment, destruction and ultimately death. There was something eating away at my heart – robbing me of joy and peace – and I had been completely unaware. But, as the Holy Spirit began to work, penetrating my heart, dealing with it, I was able to experience forgiveness. Revitalization began when the sin was eliminated.
In this life there is sin, which is responsible for bringing death – But, the good news is that there is life in Christ, and no matter the sin, it is never too late!
I am blessed and refreshed by these words from Romans 5:
12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— 13 (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. 15 But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. 16 And the giftis not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which camefrom one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. 17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)
18 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.
20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, 21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Heavenly Father, Thank you for this gracious gift of forgiveness; your righteousness in place of my sin! Thank you for the life that you give through your Son. There is no better news for my heart this week- my heart and soul, replenished with your goodness. Thank you!
daily portion 