Wash Your Hands!

Did you know that bacteria can grow and divide every 20 minutes? That means that one single bacteria cell can become more than 8 million cells in less than 24 hours! Did you know that the greatest way to spread germs is through your hands?

Everytime you touch an item with your hands, you pick up a germ. Everytime you open a door, use a pen, or even shake hands with someone you are passing germs. With those very hands you touch your eyes, nose, and mouth allowing those very germs to enter your body. It's easy to see why people make so much money on soap and hand sanitizer.

As disturbing as the facts behind bacteria may be, there is a different kind of bacteria that sickens me even more. The bacteria of sin. Just like bacteria, sin is growing all around us. The rapid rate in which bacteria grows amazed me, but the rapid rate that I am seeing sin prevail is even more overwhelming. We live in such a sinful world, and we must be as cautious to protect ourselves against the Devil and his sinful bacteria as we are everytime we wash our hands or use anti bacterial soap.

James Chapter 4 verses 1-3 describes people that are fighting within themselves to recieve the things that they want. It is pointed out that they don't have anything because they don't ask God. However, it goes a step further by saying that even when they do ask God, it's out of impure motives that only desire selfish and sinful things. Verse 4 gives us something that is really hard to swallow.

James 4:4 You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes and enemy of God.

Notice that these people are referred to as adulterous. Why? Being an adulterous person means that you are not faithful. It means that you are living against the commitment that you made. The people that we are reading about have abonded their commitment to Christ in persuit of a relationship with the world. We are told in the first 2 verses that these people are battling within themselves and were letting the world win. However in verse 4 we learn that friendship with the world shows hatred toward God, which in turn makes us an enemy of God. That is pretty straight forward and plain isn't it?

Ok Brandon, I see the problem with sinful bacteria, but soap and water isn't going to get rid of this. How do I get rid of the bacteria? Well I'm glad you asked.

James 4:7-8 says Sumbit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

1. Submit to God - Submit means to surrender. Give everything to him. Even your sinful desires.
2. Resist the Devil - Satan will always be there. Temptation will always be there, but you have to resist. The coolest part is that he has to flee from you (It's scripture!).
3. Go to God - The great thing is that when you go to God, He comes to you. That is how good God is.
4. Wash Your Hands - The best way to get rid of bacteria is to wash your hands. The best way to get rid of sinful bacteria is also to wash our hands. Not our physical hands, but our spiritual. Basically step four is saying to put all of the other 3 into practice and get your life right with God. Wash your hands of your sin and let God cleanse your heart and life.

I want to remind you all today that we live in a sinful bacteria infested world. The Devil still comes to "steal, kill, and destroy" (1 Peter 5:8). Stop passing the sinful bacteria around. Remember that your friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God. I can say for sure that I want God for me, and not against me!

If you need someone to help lead you into a relationship with Christ please let me know. I have the soap ready to give you so that you can wash your hands of your sin and come to God. If you would like to pray or talk feel free to email me at info@BrandonMatthews.com

Wash Your Hands!

Brandon