“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
One evening last week, while relaxing at home, I received a text message from a vacationer from Colorado that was anything BUT relaxing. Along with a picture of a dead Palmetto Bug, the text read, ”I’m not sure what kind of bug this is!” I called back immediately and said, “Welcome to Florida! That’s a DEAD bug!”
I remember when I saw MY first Palmetto Bug as a teen. The 2.5” long thing crawled out while I was in the bathroom and stared at me…it’s antennae moving with an intimidating, “I own you now,” kind of look! I completely freaked out! When I swatted it with a towel… IT FLEW! Thinking it’s sting might be poisonous, I screamed like a little girl and ran out the door! Today, I see Palmetto Bugs in 1 of only 2 ways. Alive…or dead!
The name Palmetto bug is really just a southern, genteel way of saying cockroach. They are, in fact, one in the same family. Because of that fact, NO one wants them in their house. I spray the house myself with a Boric acid based spray that does a good job at killing off the ones that get inside. Every bug on its back is a victory! Which, in a weird way, kind of parallels my Christian Walk.
Roaches have habits. They eat all kinds of disgusting things, and use their antennae to PREEN themselves like movie stars! These 2 habits are their downfall. For them, ingesting Boric acid, is like me swallowing razor blades. Since roaches blood doesn’t clot, they simply bleed out! Preening themselves only makes matters worse and takes the Borax home with them to the family. My flesh has those same habits! I eat a lot of junk and preen during the process!
To become a Believer in Christ means I MUST die to myself, in my flesh, and allow Christ to live inside me instead. Dying to myself DAILY is necessary because ‘The Flesh’ is chock FULL of nasty habits that will never simply wash or go away on their own. Death is the ONLY remedy. And though I sometimes wish God would have made the process of walking with The Savior EASIER, it is what it is! DESIRING to ‘die to myself’ is actually a GOOD thing because, as Jesus says, I can’t REALLY LIVE until I die. It’s a Spiritual principle.
There is no nice way to say it. In my flesh I am a roach! But when roach K.C. chooses to die to himself and I live according to the Spirit, God calls me SON! And THAT…is a piece of magnificence I hope you just might notice!
How are YOU living?
