They reject the commands of the Bible, resent the counsel of others, and refuse the cries of loved ones warning them of danger. Rather than allowing the Bible to be the deciding factor they hang on to popular positions, pleasurable practices and personal preferences — although it puts them in harms way. Even after you disprove, from the Bible, their claim that, “I’m not doing anything wrong” they continue on their same course. That proves that for them it was never a question of being right or wrong. They are determined to do as they please regardless of what God says, or what others think, or how they are personally affected. For them it is all about what they want rather than what is right or wrong, good or bad, helpful or harmful.

We all have times when, just about the time we think we have our act together, or resolve to do better, or think we have learned our lesson, we are put to the test and we fail. For example. Knowing Romans 8:28 is true doesn’t mean I will allow it to comfort me when things get up-close and personal. Believing God won’t put more on me than I’m able to bear doesn’t mean I won’t collapse under the load. Knowing God answers prayer doesn’t mean I will pray. Knowing Christ will return doesn’t mean I am looking for Him. Singing “Victory in Jesus” doesn’t mean I’m never defeated.

A well-known author once said: “Several years ago our family visited Niagara Falls. It was spring, and ice was rushing down the river. As I viewed the large blocks of ice flowing toward the falls, I could see that there were dead fish embedded in the ice. Gulls by the score were riding down the river feeding on the fish. As they came to the brink of the falls, their wings would go out, and they would escape from the falls.

“I watched one gull which seemed to delay and wondered when it would leave. It was engrossed in the fish, and when it finally came to the brink of the falls, out went its powerful wings. The bird flapped and flapped and even lifted the ice out of the water, and I thought it would escape. But it had delayed too long so that its claws had frozen into the ice. The weight of the ice was too great, and the gull plunged into the abyss.”

Although the bird had plenty of time to fly away, because it delayed it paid the price. Now think of this story in terms of the Christian life. When we become overly enthralled with the things of this world, they can bring us down.

The finest attractions of this world become deadly when we become overly attached to them. If we cannot give up the things of this world and focus on Christ, we cannot be used by Him. Our eyes must be upward on Christ rather than downward on this world.

Notice Hebrews 12:1, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” God commands us to lay aside the things that weigh us down. He knows that we will not be able to run the course He has given us with the distractions of this world.

Take a moment now to think of the “weights” in your life. The bird’s weight was the dead fish. What is it that weighs you down or keeps you from living for the Lord? What hinders you from fully surrendering to God’s will for your life? Someone once said, “Delayed obedience is disobedience.” Don’t allow that weight to cause you to fall. It’s not worth disobeying God in order to hold on to it.

Because of who we are and what we have in Christ we can rejoice. We also can rest as we rely upon Him for every need, knowing what He promised He will provide. He who is “the Way” will direct our steps. He who is a “Friend that sticketh closer than a brother” will never leave us. He who is the Wisdom of God will counsel us. He who has all power in heaven and earth is for us. Indeed we have no way of knowing what a day may hold, but due to Christ we can face it with confidence. We know we are in good hands and shall be well cared for. So we forge ahead knowing He is able and willing to meet our needs. We have then no need to worry.