"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law
of sin and death." Romans 8:1-2
The news reports coming out of Tehran sound like something from a bad science
fiction movie.
Those reports talk about "giant rats," which are the product of a "genetic
mutation" stemming from exposure to "radiations and the chemicals used on them."
Ismail Kahran, the environmental adviser for Tehran's city council, says the
rats look different and can now weigh up to 11 pounds.
Sadly, truth is stranger than fiction. The facts are these:
* It is estimated that Tehran has 2.5 million rats, some of which are bigger
than a cat.
* Those rats have been flushed out of their nests by melting snow.
* To reduce the rat population, Tehran's city fathers have ordered 45 tons of
rat poison, poison to which many of the rats may have developed a resistance.
* To supplement the rat extermination program, the city has hired snipers and
given them rifles with night-vision scopes.
Here is one other fact: Tehran is helpless in a hopeless situation. No matter
what they do they know they will never eradicate the rats.
It was that last line that got me to thinking.
It occurred to me that humanity is in much the same boat. No, we don't have an
insurmountable plague of rats, but we are beset by overwhelming sin. No matter
what we do, no matter how hard we try, no matter how sincere might be our
intentions, we cannot win the battle. We are helpless to divest ourselves of
sin.
This is precisely why we need a Savior -- why we need Jesus.
Looking at our helpless, hopeless condition the Lord above had mercy upon us and
sent His Son into this world to take our place. Having defeated Satan's
temptations and having lived a perfect life, Jesus swept up all of our sins and
carried them to the cross.
There, when He died, so did our sin. Now, by God's grace, all who are given
faith in the risen Redeemer are blessed to find the pestilence of sin has
disappeared, and we can live our lives in peace and without fear.
Jesus is humankind's special, singular Benefactor because He has rescued us from
the plague of sin, which once beset and condemned us.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I give thanks that Jesus has done what I could not and
defeated the plague of sin. May my life reflect my gratitude in all I say and
do. In Jesus' Name I ask it. Amen.
Pastor Ken Klaus
Lutheran Hour Ministries All rights reserved; not to be duplicated without
permission.
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