Spring. Beautiful flowers, green trees, lush grass, itchy eyes, pouring and/or impacted sinuses…yes, lovely, amazing spring is a two-faced scoundrel in my house, especially to me.

As much as I adore it, my body does not, especially when the oak and grass are high in the counts. It stages a revolt the likes of which haven’t been seen since…well, the Revolution. So I watch the counts and try to stay ahead of what’s coming, avoiding being outside when mowing is going on (Which is a bummer because I love to mow. Yes, really.) I make sure my arsenal of both prescription and OTC drugs is full of fresh inventory, secure eye drops for every possible location I might need them, and stock up on Kleenex. I prepare and stand guard, and even then, sometimes it still gets to me.

I truly can’t stand allergies, but I kind of wish our bodies reacted to sin that way. I mean, what would happen if I got close to an area of sin that was a problem for me, and suddenly broke out in a terrible case of hives? Would I continue? Suppose temptation came calling and, out of nowhere, my nose started pouring and my eyes were so itchy and red, I couldn’t even see to find a tissue. What then? Chances are pretty good I would be running for the nearest Walgreens, and away from sin’s allure.

As handy as this would be, it doesn’t work that way. We do have a warning system, though, in the Holy Spirit. That still, small voice that tells you to run for the hills, that always gives you a way out in that one moment when you have to make a decision to do a thing or not. It’s just up to us to listen. If we don’t, we may not have any outward reaction so flagrant as a nasty rash, but I guarantee that the body does react. The heart starts to grow hard and calloused. It starts to grow dark because in that instant of stepping into sin, we step out of the Light of the Son. And that darkness begins to spread throughout our lives, into our families, and anyone else with whom we come into contact. It’s a destroyer with a mission to which it’s committed as thoroughly as a suicide bomber.

I’m thankful that we can load up the arsenal with the Word, and talk often with God, so when the Holy Spirit starts to speak we know the sound of His voice and don’t miss it. We can’t stop the stupid allergen of sin from coming, but we can certainly guard our hearts (and our lives) from it. Even when we still succumb, I’m certainly grateful I can lug it back to Him and leave it there, with a clean slate.

I’m going to go take my medicine now. Then I might talk to God about the whole ‘outward allergic reaction to sin’ thing.

(Stops to blow nose)

I think it has merit.

“The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT

“For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” Hebrews 2:18 ESV

“Guard your heart above all else,  for it determines the course of your life.” Proverbs 4:23 NLT