A leprosy in our souls!

(Favell Lee Mortimer, "Family Devotions")

"But he was a leper!" 2 Kings 5:1

Of all diseases, none represents sin in
a more striking manner than leprosy.

Leprosy is a POLLUTING disease.
It rendered a man unfit to enter the temple, or
even to associate with his fellows; as by God's
law anyone who touched him became unclean.
Thus sin unfits man from entering heaven, and
for the society of spotless saints and angels.

Leprosy is also a SPREADING disease.
It covered a man with white scales from the
crown of the head to the sole of the foot. Thus
sin has defiled all our faculties. It has . . .
  disordered our affections,
  blinded our understandings,
  hardened our consciences,
  perverted our wills.

Leprosy is a PAINFUL disease.
The hands and feet of the poor leper are often
eaten away, and in this crippled state he drags
out a miserable existence. But what disease is
as painful as sin--
  the swellings of pride,
  the tumults of passion,
  the anxieties of covetousness,
  the gnawings of envy,
  the gloom of unbelief?

Leprosy is an INCURABLE disease.
Sin also is incurable by MAN. None can forgive
sins but God alone; none can overcome sins but
God alone. Tears cannot wash out our past sins,
nor can good resolutions keep us from committing
them in time to come.

Having then a leprosy in our souls, let us
imitate the poor leper of whom we read--

A man with leprosy came to Him and begged Him
on his knees, "If you are willing, You can make me
clean." Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out
His hand and touched the man. "I am willing," He
said. "Be clean!" Immediately the leprosy left him
and he was cured! Mark 1:40-42