Lose a Leg, Gain Life

March 29, 2007

Joe,

I had good intentions of writing some more on the second quote from Living the Cross-Centered Life, but it’s just not going to happen today! I started today on my preparation to preach another message on Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:27-30. Here’s my opening illustration, from the Minneapolis Star Tribune:

On July 20, 1993, Donald Wyman was clearing land near Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, as part of his work for a mining company. In the process, a tree rolled onto his shin causing a severe break and pinning Wyman to the ground. He cried for help for an hour, but no one came. He concluded that the only way to save his life would be to cut off his leg. So he made a tourniquet out of his shoe string and tightened it with a wrench. Then he took out his pocket knife and cut through the skin, muscle, and bone just below the knee and freed himself from the tree. He crawled thirty yards to a bulldozer, drove a quarter-mile to his truck, then maneuvered the standard transmission with his good leg and a hand until he reached a farmer’s house one-and-a-half miles away, with his leg bleeding profusely. Farmer John Huber Jr. helped him to a hospital.

Wyman cut off a leg to preserve his life; that is what we must do in the war against lust (and every other sin):

“29If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.”

Seeking to get violent with my remaining corruption,

Larry

 

Posted by Larry | Filed Under Prayer 

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