I was privileged to be the son of a taxidermist, and one of his archenemies was the grease bug. That was his name for what others call larder beetles. These six-legged adversaries are constantly on the hunt for any neglected scraps of meat or fat. If all parts of a finished specimen aren’t treated, these tiny critters can destroy a trophy in short order. We were always on alert for any sign of this miniature nemesis.
After cutting deer antlers from the skull, we dunked their bases in a chemical solution to repel such attackers. Even large moose and elk antlers had to be treated to prevent these opportunists from moving in and taking down the trophy a second time. Since the hides were chemically tanned, there was nothing in those for these hungry insects to consume, but every part of the animal had to be bug-proofed to prevent infestation.
These tiny bugs are only about 3/8ths inch long and have a very short life span, yet they can do great harm. They can completely ruin months of a taxidermist’s tedious and artistic work, leaving behind a worthless specimen.
How very much these insects are like the little sins that can ruin an otherwise exemplary life. While we may never fall to what many would consider blatant gross sins like murder, drunkenness, or adultery, “smaller” hidden ones like gossip, envy, or bitterness may undermine our spiritual life. They thrive on any area of our soul that we neglect and will exploit all possible scraps of resentment or unforgiveness we have failed to remove through confession and repentance.
Seemingly small attitudes of jealousy foster destructive thoughts that lead to destructive actions. Even the strongest Christian witness can be devastated by the constant feeding of these invaders. At times, even churches or entire ministries have crumbled because of “tiny” hidden sins that went unaddressed. Like grease bugs, they multiply and destroy before we’re even aware they are present.
Pornography is another factor that weakens healthy relationships and can cause them to collapse. Our real enemy, the Devil, can expose disparaging secrets at the perfect time to cause maximum reputational damage. Believers must be as vigilant as taxidermists for all of these “little” grease bugs before they cripple us spiritually and ruin our witness for Jesus.
Once properly preserved, taxidermy specimens are permanently protected from these insects. Treatment in our spiritual lives, however, is not a one-and-done incident. To prevent infestations, we must daily immerse our thoughts and motives into God’s Word so that the Holy Spirit can penetrate our souls and put to death pockets of potential problems just as pesticides deaden insect eggs. In addition, interaction with other believers for accountability can also catch problems before they mushroom. As we seek to keep our lives free of the damaging infestations of all sin, may we invite God to use His Spirit through His Word to keep us “bug-free.”
George Bowers – CBC Ex. Board
