From the outside, the tree looked fine.  It was still growing, the roots were still getting nutrients, but the decay on the inside of the tree was hidden from view.  It was only after a mighty storm did it reveal the true nature of the tree.

And so it is with the Christian life and even ministry.  Sin, no matter how small, if not dealt with immediately, will continue to linger and linger, creating a cancer that when fully grown will be destructive.  Bitterness, unforgiveness, secret lusts, love of money, infidelity, etc… all start off as small sins.  In the end, though, is always death.  If not dealt with, these small roots will grow into something so destructive, that nothing can stop, except the saving grace of Jesus Christ. 

So a lesson from the rotting, hollow tree.  The tree not only died, when it fell down, it broke down on the neighboring property and even damaged other things.  Sin is not just a personal issue, it has repercussions that will affect many around.

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. So even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did the wrong or of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are. By all this we are encouraged. – 2 Cor. 7:10-13

but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.  – James 1:14-15

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2. Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 15, Section 6

you’re supposed to be nice to everyone. you’re supposed to respect us… you’re supposed to wait until everyone is ready before eating… you’re supposed to look good… you’re supposed to be polite… you’re supposed to be proper…

but she didn’t know the rules… she came in, looking for food. she was smelly, dirty… she was poor and didn’t look nice… she was rude… she didn’t care what others thought… she was noisy…

because she didn’t know the rules… no one talked with her or got to know her… we didn’t know how to treat her… we ignored her, pretended she wasn’t there… because she didn’t know the rules…

we asked her to leave because she didn’t know the rules….

but she was His guest and the Lord invited her back…

because we didn’t know the rules…

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after first hearing the vt shootings i didn’t know what to think. sad? angry? ambivalent? shock? embarrassment? my school. someone attacked my school and murdered fellow hokies…

then i started thinking, what would i have done if i was in norris hall? would i run? jump out the window with some of the other students? would i hide behind a desk locked in a classroom? i started thinking and this is when my mind started going off. i started thinking of strategies i could have done.

i could have taken my cell phone and hurled it at his head a la david and goliath, or taken one of those 50lb textbooks and slammed it in his face, or use the leg of a desk or chair and jammed it up is nose, i could have snuck up behind him and knocked him down and then start kicking the f* out of him. after strategizing for a while, i got really angry, even to the point of killing this f*s*b* in my mind. i truly believe i would kill him if i had the chance.

then i asked myself… what would Jesus do in this situation? the bible says that Christ died the death so that we don’t have to. He would not have fled, He would not have left anyone behind, He would not hide, instead He would have gone into the hallway, looked the killer in the eyes with love and compassion. Jesus would have said “Father forgive him for he doesn’t know what he’s doing” and taken the hits himself. Jesus would have sacrificed himself to save those who couldn’t. It would be an act of selfless love that only He can do…

and the action that Christians empowered by the Holy Spirit would do. and i started crying… no i started weeping… because in order to be a Christian, i would have to die… care not for myself, but rather give myself up so that others may live… ME… i would have to die… in order to truly be like Christ.

are we christian? will we die with Christ so that we may be raised with him as well?

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