Wording of this Handout:
Frogs in Hot Water
This is a story I do not like, because I always think of the poor little frogs.
Anyway, the story goes that some scientists put some frogs into a container with cold water in it, and slowly heated the water to see when the frogs would decide to hop out. But, to the scientists surprise, the frogs became accustomed to the slowly rising temperature, and stayed in the container. Gradually the water heated up, until finally it was so hot it actually killed the frogs!
What does this story teach us? One thing it teaches is that if something happens gradually, it may not be noticed. This happens with people all the time, and in many ways. Take smoking for example. The first cigarette is difficult, but eventually a person can smoke them one after the other all day!
Take pollution. People will get used to all sorts of foul things if the pollution increases gradually. Take smells. Some people live with terrible smells, but they don;t notice them because the have gradually built up.
Sin works the same way too. Beware Christian, lest the world's pollution gradually works it's way into your heart! Like the frogs, you may not realize the danger until it is too late.
The Bible says, "Sin, when it is finished, brings forth death." James 1:15