"don't tell me I need a root canal!"

Infection is an ugly thing.

It starts small, but then all of a sudden festers into something ugly. We checked a few things off our list of "firsts as a married couple" this week, including a visit to the ER and a visit to the oral surgeon. Yes, a root canal was needed. Ouch. 

A root canal is where they drill into the root of the living (but infected) tooth to wash out infection. More or less, they clean the root out, leaving the tooth dead, but... no longer infected.

Naturally, as I sat there waiting for Mitchell to have his root canal finished, I started comparing this procedure to my spiritual life. Could there be something to learn from this? Of course.

Our lives all start as being infected by sin. When we allow Jesus to transform our lives by giving Him Lordship and authority over our hearts, in essence, we're allowing our lives on earth to be "root canaled." 

The infection (sin) is drilled out, and a new filling (forgiveness & the Holy Spirit) replaces it.

After a root canal, the tooth is dead, but very functional.

In the same way, we must die to the world while still functioning in it. We are dead to sin and alive to Christ, infection gone, filled by the Holy Spirit. While the pain of sin may linger, there's hope of full healing. What a blessing that is!


[Romans 6:11-14]

"In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace."


Jesus desires healing for us, and has promised to make us whole when we meet Him face to face. Until then, we're dead teeth to the world, made to chomp away at the mission God has called us to, knowing that He is the one who gives us life. 

So yes, as the dentist says in Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys, "you need a root canal!"

"You need a root canal!" video clip

Happy chomping!! :)


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