Blue People and New People

Here are the words of Hebrews 12:

1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith...

Warren Wiersbie has said, "We need to remind ourselves that God can change things. Outlook determines outcome. If we see only the problems, we will be defeated; but if we see the possibilities in the problems, we can have victory."  

Romans 7 says this:
22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death ? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord ! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.

Some news has emerged recently about a group of people from Kentucky known as the "Blue People of Troublesome Creek".   Seems that members of the Fugate family for generations have had this rare blood disorder that results in the skin being blue.  The disorder can be inherited, as with the Fugate family, or caused by exposure to certain drugs and chemicals such as anesthetic drugs like benzocaine and xylocaine and certain meat additives or antibiotics.

Apparently, the family has basically scattered, but it is an interesting study.   And, it can be instructive about the nature of sin and redemption.   You see, we are all born with a certain condition, a spiritual disorder - we are born into sin, and only through a relationship with Christ in salvation can we find an antidote, a treatment for sin.   Apparently the Fugate family possessed these characteristics throughout their lives, and we can be reminded that we face the constant struggle with sin and the power of the flesh.

But, while you do have the propensity to sin in general and even to commit certain specific sins are passed down from generation to generations, we can still choose to surrender to Christ and release His power to enable us to overcome, to resist the urges and temptations of the flesh and to experience life transformation in Him.   Just because your father or grandmother might have had life-controlling patterns that seem to "run in the family", through the power of the Lord and His Word, you can discover His strength.