WHY OUR APPETITES MUST BE RESTRAINED

One of the creepiest phenomena you will ever witness involves a parasitic flatworm named, the green-banded broodsac.  The green-banded broodsac flatworm uses two hosts to grow and reproduce.  The first is a land snail that consumes the droppings of birds which contain the parasite’s larva.

In Your Head

Once inside the snail, these larva form into long broodsacs.  These broodsacs, which contain many juveniles, grow long and resemble worms.  The broodsac works its way into the tentacle of each of the snail’s eyes, causing each tentacle to bulge and pulsate.  The parasite also releases brain-controlling chemicals that drive the snail out of its safe and shaded domain into the open.  There it’s visible and vulnerable to predators.

One of these predators is the parasite’s second host – a bird.  The bird sees the bulging and pulsating tentacles of the snail, which appear to it as maggots.  It eats the snail – along will the broodsacs containing the juvenile parasitic worms.  The bird’s GI track is the perfect location for the parasite to mature and breed.  And when the bird defecates, out go the parasitic larva to continue the cycle.  This creepy process can be viewed on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Go_LIz7kTok.

The parasite of sin infects all of humanity.  As that parasite controls the brain of a snail, sin seeks to dominate our minds.  It corrupts our hearts, twists our appetites, and poisons our minds.  It drives us to reckless behavior and self-destruction.  The evil desires that sin produces within us must be restrained – constantly, or they’ll sabotage every noble endeavor.

Who Is In Control?

This is why all philosophies based on “perfect freedom” and the pursuit of self-gratification are doomed.  The idea of “doing whatever you want as long as you don’t hurt anybody else” will never stand the test of time.

The Law of God and the threat of punishment can serve as a restraining force against evil.  But it is only the grace of God and transforming power of Jesus Christ which can give us a new heart. One that no longer desires to do evil, but hungers for good.

This is why David prayed, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew an obedient spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10).  In Ezekiel 36:26-27, God promised to take out of us our heart of stone and to give us a new heart that is soft and receptive toward Him.  And in Deuteronomy 30:6, Moses promised that God would circumcise the evil from our hearts.  However, fulfillment of this comes only when we call on the name of Jesus Christ and place our faith in Him.  Then, He will send His Spirit into our hearts and make us a brand new person on the inside (2 Corinthians 5:17).

PRAYER

Dear Lord Jesus, I acknowledge my desperate need for Your blood to cleanse me and of Your resurrection power to transform me within.  Please, dear Lord, I cannot fight the evil influence of sin on my own.  I need You to help me.  Save me, Lord Jesus, I pray. Amen.