I have a water issue at my house, three actually, but one that is really bad. There is a little water fall in our basement whenever someone takes a shower on the main floor. I started hunting the leak on Thursday. It is hard to pinpoint the source! I can tell already that it isn't going to be easy to even get to the leaky pipe, let alone fix it. I want to imagine it will just go away, but I know it won't. You see, the truth is, the problem has been there for about two years now. Yes, I can see some of you shaking your heads now. The leak was very small back then. I couldn't see it as being worth the effort to fix, so I just left it - stuffed a towel up in the ceiling and forget it, or tolerate it at least. But it's worse now, it has to be dealt with. It's going to take time, time I'd rather devote to something fun, but it has got to be done. I'm trying to prepare myself for the task. I worry that when I get to the source of the problem I won't have the skills to repair it. I worry that there will be other damage done that is irreparable because I let it go on for so long. It could be expensive. It may not get resolved in one day either. It will take some trial and error to discover the real problem. Then there will be the multiple runs to the hardware store. It may take several times to solder the pipe because of my inexperience with this issue. Will it get fixed, yes, I believe so. But then, there are the other two!

That is how sin is, isn't it. It begins small, just a little problem. We know it exists, but it isn't worth the trouble - so we leave it. At times it appears to have resolved itself. But deep in your heart you know it's still there. It resurfaces at times. You put a "Band-Aid" on it, or in this case, stuff a towel in it to stop it. But it doesn't go away. In truth it is growing more serious. Worse still, it's having an effect on other things around it - rotting, eroding other parts of your character, or perhaps your relationships with others. Yes, others in the house know the problem exists too. They ask from time to time if you'd fix it. But you don't. They try to leave you alone, not wanting to nag at you. But they too suffer because of it and they know the problem will not fix itself. The sin will eventually reach a crisis point. Now it's really bad. You have to face it. The task is bigger and more serious than before. What will you do? There is worry that I won't have the skills to fix the problem. There is a question: Is there anyone who can help me or will I just have to do it myself?

You know, with a leak in the bathroom, there is always a plumber as a last (a very last) resort. But it can be fixed. And it is not a moral problem, it doesn't have eternal consequences. It's just a thing - a wet, mildewed, rotten thing mind you - but it's still just a thing.

Sin is far more complicated. It can be fixed too, don't get me wrong, but at a much greater cost. It may create more long term damage, and at times there are consequences that are irreparable.

God is willing to help us fix the unfixable - Jesus helped people when he was here with problems they could not resolve on their own (paralytics, lepers, blind, deaf, demon possessed). There are others too who are willing to help - good brothers and sisters. But it will be a hard job. It's expensive too. Already one Man had to die for the task. Others may have been wounded or scarred. But it can be done. Is it necessary? Do you value your eternal soul? Do you value the lives of others affected by your sin? You'd better get started on the task right away. No time to delay. Procrastination led to the little leak in my basement to turn into a waterfall.

General maintenance and a little diligence can go a long way to keep your house from falling down around you. But it takes a real love for God, a genuine hate for sin and desire to go to heaven to motivate us to keep our "spiritual house" in order, So put on your plumbers hat and stop the waterfall.

Mike