Question

I know there are some biblical examples, but what is a good secular word picture for when sin invades a Christian’s life? Please include how you get rid of it. Thank you.

Answer

Thanks for your question. Sin does invade a person’s life, but it is important to understand that we must make choices. During a military invasion, a person chooses to defend himself or submit to the invading force. Cowards will run, and soldiers will stand and fight. Similarly, sin is a choice and a choice for which we are responsible. We either choose to stand strong in Christ or submit to evil.

You asked for an example of how to get rid of sin, so I’ll use one from a recent landscaping project. We have something called Red Moss growing on our side lawn. It’s ugly and slimy. It is an invasive enemy of our green yard. It kills our grass. But getting rid of red moss is rather simple and requires the following:

  • (1) 5 gallon bucket
  • (2) 4 ounces of dish soap
  • (3) 2 gallons of water
  • (4) shovel
  • (5) trash bags

First, you clear away the red moss using a shovel. It actually comes up rather easily. You throw all the moss into trash bags. Then you mix 2 gallons of water with 4 ounces of dish soap in a bucket and apply it to the cleared ground. This changes the pH of the soil and inhibits new growth of Red Moss. Over a period of weeks, you then need to reapply the solution to the same area.

Dealing with sin is similar. Sin in a Christian’s life is like an invasive, ugly moss. It kills what is supposed to be there and replaces it with something ugly and gross that needs to be eradicated. You need to take the shovel of truth—the word of God—and dig it up, confess it, and in essence throw it away. But you'll need to continually pour a solution of the word of God bathed in prayer over the now bare spot in your life. In a sense, it adjusts the pH of your soul to a righteous condition which is good ground for growth in Christ.

Answer by Dr. Joseph R. Nally, Jr.

Dr. Joseph R. Nally, Jr., D.D., M.Div. is the Theological Editor at Third Millennium Ministries (Thirdmill).

Q&A Knowledgebase