The beautiful flowers were everywhere around our camp. "Look at those purple
flowers!" I exclaimed.
"Those are Purple Loosestrife," came the matter-of-fact response from my wife.
"Purple Loosestrife? Could it be? Aren't those killer plants?"
Sure enough, it was Purple Loosestrife, the beautiful but deadly flower that has
already meant the end of acres of Canadian wetland.
But how can this be?
Many species of amphibians, birds, insects, fish, plants and reptiles depend on
healthy wetlands for their survival. When Purple Loosestrife, an European
marsh-loving plant, sets foot in a wetland, it will quickly propagate and
destroy any local vegetation. Its tenacious root system crowds out other native
wetland plants, turning the habitat into a monotypic kind of culture (making
sure only its specie remains in that area) that provides very little shelter and
food to the wetland creatures. In fact, the only nourishment it provides is to
bees and butterflies.
As it grows and blooms in this enemy free environment, nothing can be done to
stop its ravaging effects on our environment. Pulling it out has only a
temporary benefit, for the root hairs left in the soil quickly reproduce new
plants. Hope seems to only be available by introducing its natural enemy, the
European beetle, to our surroundings. But who knows what effect this would
produce in North America.
There was another enemy introduced to our world years before Purple Loosestrife.
Its effects aren't limited to wetlands, but encompass the entire planet. The
longer its tenacious roots penetrate the soil, the more attractive it appears
and the more people fall prey to its deceptions. In fact, no person has ever
been left untouched by this enemy, which is none other than the hideous sin that
crept into the Garden of Eden 6000 years ago. Humanity has never been the same,
and none have ever been able to shake off its effects. None that is, except
Jesus!
Jesus came to redeem the unredeemable. He reached out toward the untouchables.
He searched for the lost. In one word, He was the remedy to the Purple
Loosestrife of sin. Matt 18:11 "For the Son of man came to save [from the
penalty of eternal death] that which was lost." AMP
Are you struggling to break free from your addiction, may it be sex, alcohol,
drugs, or sin under any other name? You may have been successful to shake it off
for a little while, only to have it reemerge in your life with a vengeance. On
your own, you will never be able to make get rid of it. The solution is only to
be found in Jesus Christ:
John 8:36 "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." NIV
But unlike the European beetle, we know the long-term effects of those who have
welcomed and experienced Jesus in their life:
Matt 11:5 "The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are
cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the
poor." NIV
One day an atheist approached a renowned Christian professor with the following
challenge:
"I want to debate against you concerning your beliefs. I don't believe in God
and I will prove your student body that He does not exist!"
The professor looked at the atheist with sympathy and replied:
"Agreed on one condition. Bring a hundred people whose life were transformed by
atheism to the discussion."
"That…that is impossible" stammered the atheist. "That can't be done!"
"Well what about bringing ten people then?"
"But…but…Do you really know what you are asking?"
"Just bring me then one person who experienced the beneficial effects of atheism
and I will bring with me at least a hundred people whose life were affected by
the one called Jesus Christ. I will bring drug addicts who were released from
their addiction through the power of Jesus. I will get former alcoholics who
were set free from this substance addiction thanks to Jesus. Former sex addicts
will come as well and testify about the power of love from God Himself…"
The atheist quickly withdrew his request. He had nobody he could bring to defend
atheism the way that professor challenged him to do.
Purple Loosestrife? Yes, quite a beautiful flowering plant, but deadly to its
surrounding.
Sin? Very attractive to many, but deadly to its surrounding as well. What will
YOU do about it?
Rob Chaffart
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
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The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.