Necrosis in Our Hearts

KAYLEE SHAVER // SENIOR

Webster’s dictionary defines "necrosis" as this: “death of living tissue; specifically, death of a portion of tissue differentially affected by local injury (as loss of blood supply, corrosion, burning, or the local lesion of a disease).”

As I was scrolling through social media this week, I came upon a medical case (cause ya girl follows a lot of medical accounts) where a man was bitten by a rattlesnake, a viper whose venom has necrotizing factors that causes destruction of human flesh. And as defined, his flesh began disintegrating as time progressed.

First, beneath the skin, then revealing the destruction when the skin melts away. Eventually, he had huge gaping holes on his hand and arm where there used to be skin and muscle. If he did not see a doctor soon, the venom would infiltrate his entire system, shut down his kidneys, and he could die.

Thankfully, once he finally arrived at the hospital, the doctors were able to control the necrosis, and over the course of 11 surgeries and the amazing work of the surgeons, this man received a skin graft and ultimately didn’t lose his life or limb. (Sorry if that was too much for you, I am not one to get squeamish. I like the gory details.)

This reminded me of the effects that sin has in our lives. Our God is good. He is perfect. He is strong. He is powerful. He deserves all the glory in Heaven and on Earth.

“There is none like you, O Lord; you are great, and your name is great in might.” Jeremiah 10:6

But sin is necrotic. It creeps in our lives. It destroys us from the inside out. At the beginning, there are no outward signs. We are just living our lives, not thinking of Christ, not thinking of the grace that has been bestowed upon us, forgetting that: 

“For by grace you have been saved through faith.” Ephesians 2:8

But as time progresses, the sin becomes more and more apparent to our own awareness. We begin to notice its effects, but maybe, we choose to ignore it. “Oh, the pain will go away. This is just a trial. This is just a phase. I will make it through this.” But as these thoughts continue, the sin continues to decimate everything in its path; its path of destruction. One-by-one, the cells of our body break down and succumb to this sin and let it control our lives. It moves in a war path – taking everything as victim.

Eventually, this inward destruction comes to the surface. And it grows and grows and grows until you can no longer hide it. You have big gaping holes in your soul, your flesh. And, your soul decays and becomes unrecognizable. And if left untreated, this sin will kill you. It will result in forever separation from the Lord.

“For the wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:23

But there is good news. There is a happy end to this story. Yes, the wages of sin is death, BUT,

“.. the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

In the fashion of the snake bite case, we are given another chance. Jesus, the perfect, sinless, son of God, died the death that we deserved, took on all the sins of the world – past, present, and future – bore the wrath of the Father, was dead three days in a tomb, rose to life, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father in Heaven. This Jesus, died in our place and took on the necrosis of the sin we committed, so that we may have new life and give glory to the Father, the giver of life. We can be given the forgiveness of sins. And, we are made new in him, and given a new life in him.

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2

“If Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” Romans 8:10-11

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17