The Germs and Maggots of Sin: A Christian's Choice

Surround yourself with Christ, and the flies of sin will have no place to land.

One day, when my daughter was younger, we were doing her science together. We were reading about different individuals who refused to accept what others said without question. Instead, they experimented to determine whether these claims were valid. At one point in history, many people believed that germs were produced by disease. Countless lives have been lost due to this misunderstanding. Claiming that disease produces germs suggests that nonliving things can create living things. Today, we know that germs produce disease.

Another common misconception was that decayed meat produced maggots. However, it was discovered that if meat was sealed in a container, maggots did not appear. Instead, flies land on the exposed meat, lay their eggs, and maggots are born.

While this may seem rather gross, it made me think about how our surroundings affect our Christian walk.

You may believe that what you allow around you doesn’t impact you, but the opposite is true. Just as disease does not cause germs, the disease of sin does not create the “germs” of evil influences. Instead, the “germs” in your environment can lead to the disease of sin.

You might also think that the “maggots” of sin are an inherent part of you, that they come from within, and there’s nothing you can do to stop them. You might feel helpless, believing the decay of sin is inevitable and beyond your control. But that’s not true. The “flies” of evil want to lay their eggs of influence on you, which will arouse your sinful nature.  At first, it seems harmless, but soon, those eggs hatch into maggots, and things spiral out of control.

No matter what you’ve been through, you always have the freedom to choose. Just as it’s essential to keep your physical environment clean by maintaining hygiene, eating healthily, and drinking clean water, it’s equally important to keep your spiritual environment clean.

As a Christian, creating a Christ-centered environment around you is a choice. By keeping your environment free from the “germs” of sin, you’re better equipped to prevent the “disease” of sin from taking hold in your life. Will you fail at times? Yes, we have a sinful nature that naturally tends to sin. But praise God, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, who forgives and cleanses us when we stumble. When you come to Him, He forgives, allowing you to start fresh.  And we don't have to allow that sinful nature to control us but allow God to enable us to live a life in complete surrender to Him.

Just as maggots don’t arise from the decaying meat itself, the “maggots” of sin, even though we have a sinful nature, don’t appear in your life without your consent. You have a choice. Surround yourself with Godly influences. Fill your mind with God’s Word, spend time in prayer, and the devil’s “flies” will be unable to attach themselves to you and lay their eggs.

Dear Father,

Living in this world of sin, we are all susceptible to the flies and maggots of sin. We know that without You, we are unprotected. Thank You for surrounding us with Your protection when we allow You to do so. Please continue to guide us on this journey. Thank You for Your patience and love.

In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

Let’s commit to surrounding ourselves with Godly influences, using God’s Word and prayer to protect us against this world's flies, maggots, and germs. By doing so, we can avoid the disease of sin and look forward to living for eternity with the One who has paid so much for us.

Love you all.

Remember, when we fill our lives with God's Word and prayer, we leave no room for sin to take root.

I’d love to hear your thoughts and reflections on what I’ve shared.