CURRENT SERIES: NEW BEGINNINGS
DAY 8: A NEW BEGINNING… WITHOUT DARK SECRETS IN YOUR LIFE
By Benescke Janse van Rensburg
An man was recently arrested by the Italian police after a three-year-old Cuban crocodile was found swimming in his bath at home. When reaching adulthood, this crocodile can grow up to three meters in length.
The crocodile owner smuggled the croc into the country as an egg, hatching it out at home. Wildlife experts, who removed the reptile from the apartment, said it might have become increasingly difficult to remove this croc at a later stage, seeing that it is known as the world’s brightest, fastest and most aggressive crocodile. The owner was fined £70,000 (more than R700,000) and he might still be facing a one year prison sentence for this crime.
In our lives, dark secrets or secret sins have the tendency to become like this crocodile. Initially we think, like the owner did, that we can hide our secret sins from the world. The danger, however, is that the egg will hatch and that it will start to grow to where it is out of control.
What “crocodiles” are you hiding from the world today? Your addiction (to food, drugs, gambling, alcohol, drugs)? Your love for gossip? Your temper or hurtful, degrading words towards your loved ones? The attention you are getting from a person outside your marriage - or that you are giving to? Do you realize that God sees everything?
Listen to the words in Job 11:11: “For He knows those who are false, and He takes note of all their sins.” And also in Hebrews 4:13: “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before His eyes, and He is the one to whom we are accountable.”
God wants to help you get rid of all the crocs in your life as He knows what damage they can possibly do. Why don’t you ask Him to strengthen you through His Holy Spirit to move away from them? I am sure you don’t want to be issued with an astronomical fine, imprisonment or a crocodile running out of control in your home! God bless.
In our lives, dark secrets or secret sins have the tendency to become like this crocodile. Initially we think, like the owner did, that we can hide our secret sins from the world. The danger, however, is that the egg will hatch and that it will start to grow to where it is out of control.
What “crocodiles” are you hiding from the world today? Your addiction (to food, drugs, gambling, alcohol, drugs)? Your love for gossip? Your temper or hurtful, degrading words towards your loved ones? The attention you are getting from a person outside your marriage - or that you are giving to? Do you realize that God sees everything?
Listen to the words in Job 11:11: “For He knows those who are false, and He takes note of all their sins.” And also in Hebrews 4:13: “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before His eyes, and He is the one to whom we are accountable.”
God wants to help you get rid of all the crocs in your life as He knows what damage they can possibly do. Why don’t you ask Him to strengthen you through His Holy Spirit to move away from them? I am sure you don’t want to be issued with an astronomical fine, imprisonment or a crocodile running out of control in your home! God bless.
Father God, thank you for knowing about my every need and desire. Help me not to live in fear, but to seek Your kingdom first. I ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
· See a picture of the crocodile here:http://web.orange.co.uk/article/quirkies/crocodile_in_bathtub
** Benescke Janse van Rensburg is a freelance journalist and author of the book, Ontdek God in die stories van mense and also Wysheid, oordenkings uit Spreuke.