The Wonders of God’s Creation
“Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth?” Jeremiah 23:24.
We have considered many kinds of ants in past articles, discovering how interesting are the ways the Creator has ordered their lives. But as we look at fire ants we will understand why many people wish they could be wiped off the earth, for they only spell trouble wherever they choose to live.
This big, bright-red ant was originally a resident of South America, living in its forests and fields. However, about 40 years ago a few found their way into the southern United States. People, unfortunately, didn’t pay much attention to them at that time. They multiplied rapidly though, and before long they appeared in many places in great numbers. Today millions of them live in the entire area from Florida and Georgia west into Texas and are getting more numerous every day.
If you ever get one on you, you will soon know why they are so unpopular, for their sting is painful and itchy, raising a red welt that hurts for several days. But for farmers it is even more serious; the ants infest their fields, building underground nests that soon rise a foot or more above the soil and coating them with a sticky material that dries as hard as cement. These become hidden among the crops, and when farm equipment passes over them it gets damaged and requires expensive repair, only to have it happen all over again if another mound is run over. Sometimes the crop-grower gets so discouraged that he leaves his crop unharvested, which of course means no income from it.
As though not satisfied with damaging farm machinery, they also devour some of the crops as well as killing young, tender orchard trees. Their ferocious appetites also harm much wildlife — birds, insects, small animals and even snakes being among their frequent victims. Of course, great and expensive efforts are made to find a means of killing them off, but they are so tough that this has not been successful. People now realize they just waited too long.
The carelessness of people 40 years ago, who first experienced fire ants and did nothing about them until it was too late, is a lesson for us about every sin (even ones that seem very small) that we commit. If we ignore them, then, like the fire ants, they get worse and worse until they have real control over our lives.
How important it is to confess our sins to the Lord Jesus just as soon as they happen. If we ask sincerely, He will guide us in a right way so they will not be repeated. His promise is, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9. Don’t put off doing this!
ML-04/12/1987