I am sure that you have heard the old adage, “Be careful, it’s a jungle out there.” That is such a true statement… for many reasons. Life can sometimes seem like an old Tarzan movie. You are the strong man… whacking your way through the underbrush, watching out for the dangers that lurk around every corner. You never know when a huge anaconda might drop down from the canopy and ensnare you or a ferocious lion leap out to devour you. Now, I must confess that I chose those two animals purposely to remind you of the enemy of your soul… the devil. Scripture refers to him as a serpent in Revelation 12:9 and as a lion in 1 Peter 5:8.
Now, let’s switch gears a little. Your mind is like that overgrown jungle, filled with the dangers, weeds, wild beasts, and adversaries of your soul. You want to see clearly and simply find your way to safety and peace. You hack away at the distractions of life, but you soon grow weary because you just don’t have enough strength to keep up the pace. Sound familiar? Probably. Now, consider this…
In the beginning, God created things to be a state of perfection. His Garden of Eden should have been a perpetual paradise on the earth where the first man and woman could remain in pure fellowship with their Creator. However, we know the rest of the story. Adam and Eve sinned and defiled paradise and as a result, God cursed the ground to produce all the junk of the jungle. The weeds, briars, burrs, and other impediments in nature sprang forth to vex us. It is as if these things represent the sin of the world. No longer are we able to enjoy the clean pure paradise of God’s creation and no longer are we the beneficiaries of a pure heart or mind. Our minds are like the wild jungle.
Thankfully, God cares enough about us to provide a way to combat the effects of sin in the world. This Way is Jesus. He is the true hero and has the ability to help us defeat the serpent when he attacks or the lion when he roars. All we have to do is accept His help, His power, His salvation. Through Him, we can push our way through the jungle and find shelter. So, if your mind seems to be an endless jungle of worry, pain, or darkness – call to Jesus. He is the source of the help you need. Think about it.
