Poison Ivy & Sin / The Problem & the Cure

Posted byRobert GollPosted inHealth, ReflectionsTags:, , ,

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

The Problem

A few months ago, I was picking poison ivy from our property. Honestly, I was being proud. I’d cleaned out poison ivy before once before without a reaction, so I was wearing short gloves (not arm length), shorts, and a short sleeve shirt, as I walked through patches of it, ripping them and stuffing them deep into a garbage bag. I rubbed my face a few times, and had long branches of it brush my face, eyes, and get in my mouth. (To give myself a little excuse, I meant to just pick one plant I saw, that led to two, which led to three, which led to where this story finds us. It was a gradual progression and I kept thinking, “one more won’t hurt”, and then “I’ve done this much already. Why stop now?)

How does the thought of that make you feel? “Stupid!”, “What was he thinking!?”, “Ooooo!”, “He deserved what he had coming.”

If you were there with me thinking you were picking up leaves, and then realized that you had been getting poison ivy all over your body, how would you be feeling (before the itch sets in)? “Oh no. Oh no. Oh no.” “How do I get it off?” “Should I shower? Will that make it better or worse?” “How do I avoid spreading this to my family?” “How bad is it going to get?”

Most people take poison ivy very seriously. They stay away. 

How seriously do we take sin?

How does your emotional reaction to realizing that you lied without thinking much of it compare to your emotional reaction to realizing you just tripped into a poison ivy patch? How about your reaction to finding yourself looking at something you shouldn’t? Saying something inappropriate? Thinking something that made you glad others can’t read your mind? How does your reaction compare to landing in that poison ivy patch?

For many, we don’t see the immediate consequences and don’t take it nearly as seriously.

The Bible however reminds us that, “For the wages of sin is death…. (Romans 6:23)” DEATH! And James 2:10 points out, “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.”

The best definition I have heard of sin is, “Sin is everything in thought, word, and deed that is contrary to the will of God.” (BSF) Anything that we think, say, or do, that is not in obedience to, and for the glory of, God, is sin.  And the wages of sin in death!

Where poison ivy may result in discomfort for a short while for most people (from minimal itch, to a severe medical situation for a few), it is usually not a life changing (or ending) situation. Sin on the other hand results in eternal death, separation from God.

My reaction when I stepped back and realized my situation with the poison ivy, helped me to see how flippantly I can dismiss my own sin. Do you dismiss and excuse your sin? Do you see the gravity of the situation?

The Cure

If you find yourself covered in poison ivy and a trusted, experienced, neighbor walks over, sees your plight, and lets you know that there is an antidote for poison ivy, and that they will go get some for you, how do you feel? Perhaps doubtful, but hopeful, considering the source. Perhaps able to breathe again with relief.

There is an antidote for poison ivy. I’m not sure why it’s not more widely known, but there is an antidote. Jewelweed often grows near poison ivy, and is the natural antidote. (Apparently there is a natural chemical in the sap that breaks down the Urushiol from the poison ivy, effectively neutralizing it.) 

Elyse and I first learned about Jewelweed while taking a walk in the park back in Ohio, before moving to Missouri. We took a picture of the beautiful flower (the jewel), searched for it, and had a huge “AHA” moment! God is so good. We had never known it, but he provided the antidote for the dreaded poison ivy right there, and we never knew! (Do you ever wonder what else we don’t know that could help with so many other issues?)

One of my subtle hopes as we looked at properties is that we would have jewelweed (along with cattails, and a few other things).

As God provided the antidote for poison ivy (even if most have no idea, or are doubtful even hearing about it), he also provided the antidote for sin, though that antidote was more costly, as the consequences are more severe.

Just as the Jewelweed must be crushed to let the juices flow out and cover the affected area, so Jesus, the Son of God, was crushed for our sins. As Isaiah wrote, “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)

The cost was high, but we didn’t pay it. Jesus did. He didn’t just neutralize the effects of sin, he took them. He died in our place. He took our sin and gave us his righteousness.

The wages of sin truly is death. God did not change that; He just sent Jesus to take that death for us.

If you are covered with poison ivy, how does your response to hearing about an antidote compare to your hearing about the antidote for sin? Think about that. What does it say about how seriously we see sin? For me, it has a been convicting to see how easily I dismiss sin, and take the antidote for granted.

Lord, I pray that you would help me to see your holiness, the horror of my sin, and be overwhelmed at your great gift!

The story ended well. Though I got into the poison ivy early in the season, before the jewelweed had grown (or at least before I could identify it), my arms got somewhat itchy, just enough that it felt good to gently rub my finger nails over them, and a little itchy at night. I didn’t pass it to others. And it passed in about a week. I am grateful for God’s mercy on my pride.

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