Clear Cutting

This weekend I had a chance to go to the mountains with my mom and some friends for much needed time away (and a little marathon scrapbooking...). As we drove to our destination, I soaked in the beauty of the fall colors - the contrasting golden aspens with the evergreens and the purple hues canvasing the vista. From afar, the mountainside looked magnificent. But as we looked closer and as we drove further up in elevation, we could see the devastation. Acre after acre of dead evergreens, turning red then purple. The beetles have been thriving while we've been getting rain in the Rockies. Their feast has taken its toll on over 3/4 of the mature trees that we could see. But you know what? I never saw a beetle.
God has been talking to my heart a lot about sin lately. I've been thinking about how the secret sins in my life are like the beetles. These are the sins in my heart and thoughts that gnaw at me--the envy, the pride, the selfish desires that draw me away from pursuing holiness and a closer relationship with God.
When sin creeps in and takes hold of our hearts, the change is subtle. Maybe even from a distance we still appear beautiful (well put together and in control) but as we take a closer look at the details of our lives, there is death. As long as there is sin that is allowed to have hold, there is ugliness that will hinder vibrant growth in our lives. There are parts of us that need to be clear cut so that new life can receive light and grow.
As I continued to survey the mountainside, I saw new life. Baby trees that had been growing for a few years but were apparently too little for the beetles feast on. It will take a couple of years to cut down all the dead trees throughout this mountain region. As soon as the dead trees come down, there will be room for the small trees to grow faster.
How true is that for our own lives? When we throw off the sin that so easily entangles, it allows us to see that when the Holy Spirit dwells in us there is still awesome work being done. When we clear away the distractions, we see new life and new chances to draw closer to God. What are your secret sins that are eating you alive? Identify them and do it fast. Ask God to clear away any sin that is not allowing you to pursue a holy life that brings God glory.
Be a beautiful picture of God's creation from afar and close-up.