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Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK
April 27, 2012

“Quarantined”
“Keep to a path far from her, do not go near the door of her house…” – Proverbs 5:8

You’ve probably seen a movie like this: A deadly, infectious disease is running rampant through a town or area. Many have already died and others are dying. To prevent the disease from spreading further those with any symptoms are quarantined—separated from the healthy until either a cure is found or they succumb to the disease themselves. This “scenario” as a movie would be entertaining if it were not for the fact that too many times through the centuries this has been played out in real life. In Biblical days, leprosy destroyed the lives of countless thousands—not just the ones infected but their families as well.
The Black Plague of the 14th Century killed an estimated 60% of Europe’s population. In the 18th Century Smallpox took an estimated 60 million European lives including five reigning monarchs—with more than 60% of the deaths being children. Today, HIV/AIDS is claiming lives all over the globe.
Plagues and diseases have been a part of our world since the fall of man. But make no mistake about it there is a disease that not only takes one’s physical life—but destroys what matters most, the person’s soul.
The difference between the plagues listed above and the one I just mentioned is that of “choice.” Those infected with leprosy, the Black Plague, Smallpox, and many others, fell victim to something that they probably could not avoid. That is obviously not the case with the verse above—meaning we can avoid going to the house where the disease lives which also means there is a good chance we will not become exposed to the evil that lurks there. Amazing how that works…isn’t it?
The truth of the matter is this—if you do not want to “get caught” stay away from the problem! Don’t “take the bait” as it were. Yes, it is appealing, but in the end it is appalling. One more illustration to complete this.
Dr. Steven Jackson, a Zoologist, wanted to study the habits of eagles and to do so came up with an incredible method. He knew that eagles were extremely leery of humans so any attempt to get close to them would have to be by making them comfortable with him. He started by finding an area where a number of them lived and hunted. On the first day he found a tree stump near a lake and placed a fish on that stump. He stayed approximately one hundred yards away, hidden behind some trees. Although he spotted a number of eagles circling above, none of them “took the bait.”
Day two; same procedure—same results. Day three, same procedure, but this time one eagle landed approximately 50 to 60 feet away, but again, did not take the bait. Day four, same procedure, what appeared to be the same eagle landed, drew closer to the fish but still was not comfortable in taking the fish. Day five, the eagle landed, not 50 to 60 feet away, but right next to the fish and after several minutes, took the fish. Day six, the same. Day seven, Dr. Jackson left his hiding place and began drawing closer to the eagles landing spot. By the 14th day, Dr. Jackson was only a few feet away from the stump, even to the point where the eagle was allowing him to give the fish to him! After a week of this procedure, Dr. Jackson had literally befriended the eagle and could have captured or killed it with little effort.
Dr. Jackson’s findings confirmed this truth—the eagle’s first instincts, to be leery of a “free fish” were correct! He should have stayed away instead of taking the bait. Same thing applies to us—stay away from Satan’s lair—do not go near. Consider it quarantined, diseased and dangerous and deadly!
Pastor J. T. Carnell
Posted to Religious by @ 6:40 pm EDT

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