"Allergy Shots"

“Allergy Shots”

 

During my college years I began showing symptoms of hay fever (itchy eyes, stuffiness, and most of all fits of sneezing). This carried into the first twelve years of our marriage. Finally I listened to Karen (I wish I had sooner) and went to an allergist. After testing I was found to be off the charts for pollen, dust, and mold and the doctor set up a regimen of desensitizing shots (with real needles!). After several years the program was completed and I thank God (as well as Karen and the doctor) for the measure of relief I still have.

Just as my body needed to be desensitized from the things which troubled it we need to be desensitized from the impact of sin. According to 1 John 3:4, “…sin is…a breaking of God’s law.” (Phillips). So what we require is a shot of biblical truth to help us fight the inroads of sin in our lives. Sin comes from Satan (see Genesis 3 and 1 John 3:8) and the only way we can fight him is with the Word of God believed,  quoted, and applied in the power of the Holy Spirit (just as Jesus did when He was tempted in Matthew 4). The old saying still rings true: “This Book (i.e. the Bible) will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this Book.” An increasing knowledge of the Scriptures is thus necessary to keep sin from gaining the upper hand.

In the same way that the needle has to pierce the skin for the medicine to take effect, the Word of God must penetrate our hearts for its truth to become a part of us. Hebrews 4:12 tells us that “…the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any doubled-edged sword, it penetrates….” We must allow the principles of Scripture to shape our lives and make us what God desires us to be. He wants us to be able to distinguish truth from error (1 John 4:1-3), love one another (1 John 3:18), and live godly lives (1 John 3:10) as well as avoid sin. If we reach out in love in the light of His truth we know that God’s Word is having a positive impact on us.

Shots aren’t fun but are necessary now and then. Sometimes the Word isn’t pleasant to hear (especially when it steps on our toes) but these are often the things most needful for us. Let’s ask God to desensitize us from sin and its effects with healthy doses of His truth.

Blessings!

Jim McMillan