An Ounce of Prevention

“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today”, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” Heb. 3:13

This past winter was unusually mild. One sunny day my husband and I decided to take advantage of this gift and venture outside. He got a head-start on his spring chores cutting bushes while I grabbed my camera to wander and explore. The warm golden remains of a late fall met with the crisp, cool blues of winter, clashing in a canvas of rich tones. Lines drew my gaze over intricately woven textures in the dried wheaten grass while light danced in the shadows. I ambled on, energized by the fresh air and beauty around me.

Ice along the water’s edge led my eyes toward a reflection in the water—a familiar elm tree on the opposite shore of the river’s small side channel. Past photographs I have captured of this tree swirled in my mind and I noticed something was missing from my current view. Though the water was perfectly still, the reflection of the young tree in the water was marred, only a faint likeness of its usually perfect self. In the cold nights of late December ice had begun to form, hardened the clear water and settled in for a long dead winter. Only the tree’s crowning branches were visible in the water; clearly etched with intricate detail reflecting as they ought, just beyond the reaches of the approaching layer of ice—for now.

This portrait of the encroaching ice reminds me of a Christian’s battle with indwelling sin. Formed in the right environment, ice inches along quietly, but not slowly, and grips its target. Once vibrant, life-giving water now lays cold, hard and dormant. Sin is deceitful and can harden our hearts as fast as the biting cold solidifies water. Scripture has much to say about sin. Like these chilling words of God to Cain, just before he murdered his brother:

“….sin is crouching at the door, its desire is to have you, but you must rule over it ” Gen. 4:7

And this warning call to Christians:

“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today”, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” Heb. 3:13

Sin is sneaky. It creeps in quietly, not slowly, little by little. Charles H. Spurgeon once warned, “Christian, beware of thinking lightly of sin. Take heed in case you fall little by little.“

Almost imperceptibly, sin can entwine a death grip on our hearts and settle in for a winter season. So how can we prevent this hardening of our hearts? Fellow Christian, though it’s natural to forget in this land of ease and plenty, we must remember: we’re in a war, the time for complacency is not now. We must be ever alert, aware and ready for battle. We must daily, to use Paul’s words, “…put on the full armor of God” (Gal. 6:11)

With our guard up, our feet firmly established, Hebrews 13:3 gives us a simple ounce of prevention:

“Encourage one another“

Today. And again tomorrow, the next day, and the day after that.

“As long as it is called ‘Today’“

Love God with all your heart, and then go love your neighbor. Little by little we love, so we won’t be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

Hold steady, dear reader, summer is almost here.