Daily Post: Pest
The creature landed on my arm on the first tee. Driver in hand, at first I thought I might have to use the club as a weapon of mass destruction against this evil menace. The thing was huge. As my uncle Wylie would say, “if the thing had a saddle, I could have ridden it home.” Now, mosquitoes on a golf course are nothing new, and since this course is near a lake, pest management is a continual problem. And while mosquito donuts containing a naturally occurring bacteria help control the pesty population, they are not the be-all cure for these nasty little creatures.
Knowing where to find their habitats is one of the keys. Adult mosquitoes apparently rest where it’s cool, dark, moist, and out of the wind. They stay in these little hidey-holes until they sense a victim (human or animal), then quickly fly to their prey. Ugly pests that they are, they congregate near any pool of standing water to lay their eggs, and it takes a very small amount of water to constitute a pool. Standing water can be found in potted plants, tarps, wheelbarrow or drainage pipes. Golf courses are notorious for mosquito challenges.
The American Mosquito Control Association, founded in 1935, is a scientific/educational, not-for-profit public service association operating under the corporation laws of the state of New Jersey. It is world-wide in scope, with members or subscribers to its publications in over 50 countries. Their mission: To provide leadership, information, and education leading to the enhancement of health and quality of life through the suppression of mosquitoes and other vector-transmitted diseases, and the reduction of annoyance levels caused by mosquitoes and other vectors and pests of public health importance.
According to their data over one million people worldwide die from mosquito-borne disease every year. This is the list from their website of mosquito-borne diseases:
- Malaria
- Chikungunya
- Dog Heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis)
- Dengue
- Yellow fever
- Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE)
- St. Louis Encephalitis (SLE)
- LaCrosse Encephalitis (LAC)
- Western Equine Encephalitis (WEE
- West Nile virus (WNV)
- Zika virus
Seems daunting and sobering just to think about it, huh?
But what if there were a pestilence with the capability of destroying billions of human lives, which was unseen and untraceable? What if there persisted an evil so pervasive that it touched literally even human life on the planet? Even better, what if a cure for this disease were readily available for each person, and there was enough available for each newborn human as well? Wouldn’t this be horrible but wonderful?
The pestilence born over the course of human history is Sin. It is not borne through mosquitoes, no. It is born into each heart, as humans perpetuate the distance between their Creator and themselves. It is a constant and perpetual problem, bringing with it the pain of certain death if not treated. And make no mistake, that while there are many who propose to have found a remedy which eases the side effects of this disease, there is only ONE which eradicates the pest at the source. All others are imitations at best, and worse, false hope and lies.
The Creator, infinitely wise, full of grace and mercy, came from heaven to take on our human likeness, so that He might conquer this plague once and FOR ALL. On the cross His blood was spent. In the tomb He lay dormant until the process was completed. When the stone rolled away, taking up His life again He came forth conquering the pestilence known as Sin, for all of mankind. Now, thankfully, the Creator makes available the CURE for Sin to every person who will trust in Jesus Christ as Savior.
Some stubbornly refuse to acknowledge they even have this disease. Some put on pretenses of worshipping the Creator, having never met Him or spoken to Him, and have certainly not put their trust in Him. Others deny His existence or the reality of the disease itself, having been controlled by the pestilence to the point where their minds are blind to the truth.
There is no shot, no pill, no dietary regimen which will destroy the pest, called Sin, at its core. Only one thing will save. Only one name will heal. Only one name offers grace.
Jesus.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
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As I was saying... 