How to Get Rid of Destructive Mounds of Sin in Your Life

Daily Devotional – Friday, December 3, 2021

O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

Romans 7:24 (NKJV)

I recently visited a place where termite mounds were as tall as six feet. I was amazed at how little insects could build such massive structures. I also came across an abandoned house that termites had taken over. At the centre of the house was a massive termite castle, covering wooden furniture.

It reminded me of the termites that used to destroy wooden houses in my village. They would eat the inside of the timber gradually and noiselessly until the structure collapsed. People who were not vigilant would eventually lose their houses.

Getting Rid of Termites

To get rid of the obnoxious insects, people would cover wood with oil or paint. The termites would disappear and people would rejoice, but not for too long. Soon, the parasites would return, with a vengeance, and eat away the remaining pieces of wood.

For the more enlightened villagers, however, there was a more effective method of getting rid of the menace. They would dig deep into the ground under the termite mound and destroy the queen. After that, the insects disappeared and the destruction stopped.

Spiritual Termites

Like pervasive and destructive termites, so is sin. Paul captured the human disposition to sin and our predicament when he lamented, “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:24).

In Romans chapter 7, Paul teaches that human beings end up doing evil even when they intend to do good. Why? “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.” (Romans 7:18).

We cannot get rid of sin easily because it builds a house inside us. We may try to get rid of some of our evil habits, just like trying to kill termites, but soon the same evil tendencies and practices arise.

Without Me You Can Do Nothing

The only permanent solution to sin is Jesus Christ. As Paul says, “I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:25). Only Jesus can dig the mound of sin, and kill the queen mother – Satan. Jesus tells us, “…without Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5).

If you are struggling with ungodly thoughts, attitudes and habits, stop fighting on your own and surrender to Jesus. Let him dig out the termite mound of your sin and give you a new lease of spiritual life.

Lord Jesus, I surrender my life to You. Give me power over sin