I admit it. In this morning’s sermon I called everyone a “lying cock roach.” Everyone in our church is a lying cock roach. Everyone on planet earth is a lying cock roach. Now, who am I to say that? Answer----I’m a lying cock roach too. For those of you who weren’t at church this morning, I better explain…….
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The book of 1 John (1:5-10) talks about people who claim fellowship with God, yet walk in the darkness versus people who claim fellowship with God and walk in the light. According to John the first group is made up of “liars” because they claim one thing while their life proves something else. Cock roaches HATE the light. If you turn the light on in a room with cock roaches, they scatter as quick as they can. They despise the light. “Human cock roaches” despise the light as well. Not physical light necessarily, but the Light of the world--Jesus Christ. In fact, Jesus said: "This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.” (John 3:19 NASB) Do you love the darkness and reject the light? Are your deeds evil? Then you qualify as a “human cock roach.” I ought to know….I used to be a “human cock roach” too. But what happened to change that? Colossians 1:13 happened--- “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. God takes “human cock roaches” and transfers them to the kingdom of light. He changes their nature. He gives them a new life. He makes them new creatures and he turns them into “human mosquitoes” if you will. Mosquitoes love the light. On warm summer nights, they can’t stay away from it. They’re constantly buzzing around light bulbs. They love the light and their love for the light leads them into fellowship with the light and fellowship with other mosquitoes who also love the light. Does that make sense? Would you rather be called a mosquito than a cock roach?
John went on to say that those who walk in the light have fellowship with one another. Christians want to be around other Christians. The Holy Spirit lives within them and He draws them to Himself and He draws them into communion with each other. If you HATE being around other Christians, then you must NOT be one yourself. Some Christians may grade your nerves (I probably do for some of you)….but there will be SOME desire to be with other believers in SOME church if you are a believer. You’re like a mosquito buzzing around a light bulb and you can’t stay away from other mosquitoes. One other thing about mosquitoes…..they live because of someone else’s blood. The spiritual analogy here is obvious. John said, “The blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)
So, are you a cock roach or are you a mosquito? I know what your thinking….Isn’t there a third choice? No, not really. You’re either in the kingdom of darkness or you’re in the kingdom of light. Some are deceived about what kingdom they're in. They’re cock roaches that think they’re mosquitoes. According to John, some are just flat out liars. They know they walk in darkness, but claim fellowship with God. Then there are the true mosquitoes. They love the light. They CAN’T STAY AWAY from the light. They love Jesus, they follow Jesus, and they imitate Jesus. And they’re not really mosquitoes……..they’re Sheep. Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:27-28 NASB) So what are you? Are you one of His sheep on the narrow road that leads to life? Or are you a cock roach who hates the light, rejects Christ, and scurries on down the WIDE ROAD to the eternal torment of Hell. By the way…there won’t JUST BE cock roaches in Hell. Jesus said it’s a place where “the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.” (Mark 9:44) You better figure it out on this side of eternity? Are you a cock roach that’s going to the worms? Or are you a sheep that’s going back to the Shepherd?…The Shepherd, who IS the LIGHT of the World….May His Name be forever praised…..By the Sheep…..who were ONCE cock roaches.