Leviticus 13:1–2: “And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying: When a man has on the skin of his body a swelling, a scab, or a bright spot, and it becomes on the skin of his body like a leprous sore, then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons the priests.”

December 27th, 2022 by Pastor Ed in devotional

There is a striking similarity between the disease of leprosy and the disease of sin. Both spread throughout the body. Sin usually begins as a thought that becomes a desire that then leads on to an act. The results of both, unchecked, are always devastating.

The root of leprosy and sin lies much deeper than the surface where the symptoms appear. The prophet Jeremiah, in Jeremiah 17:9, said the root of sin is the heart: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it? I, the LORD, search the heart.” Jesus pointed to this same root when He said, “out of the heart comes forth uncleanness, murders.”

The beginning stages of leprosy are very much like sin. First there is a swelling, or as the King James version says, flesh arising. In that swelling of flesh we see a picture of the first of all sins, the sin of pride. Pride caused Lucifer to rebel against God. The same happens when we want to exalt ourselves, to be noticed by others, or to be out in front. Many have noticed that the middle letter in the word pride is the letter i and describes the main problem: I first.

The second symptom of leprosy is a scab or a cover up of the wound. We do the same when sin gets a hold in our lives. We try to cover it up, conceal what we know is there.

The third symptom mentioned is a bright spot. Sin can be a bright spot for a short time. We have heard our own minds speak to us, saying, “it’s the brightest spot in my life, the one thing that brings me pleasure.” Scripture does say there is pleasure in sin for a season, but the final outcome, unchecked, is always the same—death.

Both sin and leprosy not only spread but also defile the patient’s mind, heart, and body, including all that they touch. Both diseases isolate the person from their family, friends, and, ultimately, God.

Rehabilitation of a sinner is a waste of time because the disease always returns. There is only one cure available and that is rebirth. It is necessary for the sinner to be transformed inside, reborn, making everything new, “you must be born again.”

“Thank you, Lord, that You have given the cure—Your own life. Help us to follow You this day.”