The No-See-Ums Plagues
In most books about the Old West, you seldom read about the bugs. Oh, there are great stories about bears, snakes, and mountain lions. But what about when the cowboys, prospectors, mountain men, and pioneers had to face the dreaded enemies of mosquitos, fleas, lice, gnats, and no-see-ums?
Each of these little creatures had their impact on the flesh and blood of the folks who came west.
Biting Gnats
My favorites are the no-see-ums. That was the name the Indians gave to the biting buffalo gnats, midges or punkies so small you couldn’t see them sitting on your arm. But you could sure enough feel their sting, a burning sensation followed by a red welt and itching.
You could wander off into a swarm of them without knowing it. They’re so little they can pass through the average door screen. But it wouldn’t take long to discover them. Suddenly, your arms, neck and face and anywhere they could light became inflamed with bites.
What You Can’t See
What you can’t see can hurt you. Whether they’re visible or not, you will feel the pain and have to nurse the wounds after washing with soap and water. Your beach vacation could be ruined because of sand flies.
Spiritual World Attacks
The same is true in the spiritual world. Sometimes sin attacks us like a grizzly bear. It will shred your life and render you gasping for breath. You give it your best battle, and with the help of other believers, and the intervention of the Holy Spirit, you can fight back and win. But not all sin attacks us with such directness.
Swarms of Sins
Thousands of species of no-see-um bugs scatter the earth. There are also multitudes of swarms of temptations and sins so small that one by itself seems insignificant and harmless. In a world of moral collapse, a society of violence and deceit, a community of gross immorality, a neighborhood of blasphemous speech, or in a family of greed and covetousness, a social group steeped in selfishness, you can rationalize the little sins won’t hurt you.
Growth Pattern
James 1:15 states, “Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is full grown, gives birth to death.”
Notice the verse doesn’t distinguish between grizzly bear or no-see-um sized sin. No matter what the sin, we will feel the pain and need to nurse the wounds that have been inflicted.
Now You See ‘Em, Now You Don’t
The most dangerous spiritual attack might not be up there on the horizon. It might already be swarming unseen around you. You need to be armed with the repellent of obedience to God’s Word before the attackers ever come into view.
Stephen Bly
Copyright 1995
No-See-Ums Biting Gnats Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay
Insects Image by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay
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“No-See-Ums” audio podcast by award-winning western author Stephen Bly. Sponsored by BlyBooks.com Legacy Series.
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I always love hearing Steve give these messages over just reading the words. Touches my heart. What a great message in such a simple way!
Connie Sue: Thanks so much for the note! Greatly appreciated!