“Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall”.–Prov. 16:18
Our lives are always just a heartbeat away from changing drastically and maybe forever. It might be caused by health problems–heart attack, stroke, etc.; or it might be caused by others, in 1001 different ways. However, the greatest threat comes from within. It’s what we are liable to do that troubles me the most. It troubled Paul also ( 1 Cor. 9:27), and I think it was his fear of falling that kept him from failing.
The quickest way to fall is to think you can’t. And there are many ways in which it can happen. Life on planet earth is difficult and dangerous. The world, the flesh, and the devil are all warring against us, every moment of every day. And it is a big mistake to think we are strong enough, smart enough, or spiritual enough that we won’t fall. The fact of the matter is that we are always on the ragged edge, the very verge, of falling.
Our whole life can change in a moment of time. One fit of anger, moment of unbridled lust, or foolish decision can ruin the rest of your life and do great harm to others. And it can happen so fast that you hardly know what happened! Because of this possibility we must be on guard at all times. We have to anticipate the problem and prepare for it. Self-defense teachers often talk about “situational awareness”, being ever aware of the possibility of danger. That is good advice in all areas of life. As 1 Peter 5:8 says, ” Be sober , be vigilant ; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about , seeking whom he may devour :”
One of the most important things we can do is to recognize our weakness and realize how dependent we are upon God. Trials and temptations can come out of nowhere and hit us like a whirlwind. On our own we don’t stand a chance. Our only hope is the security afforded by being in submission to Christ. Those on the road of rebellion have no protection.
We can’t control most things that happen to us or what others do, but we can control what we do. To stay safe we have to keep short accounts with God, by confessing our sins immediately, praying without ceasing, feeding on God’s Word, and staying in fellowship with the Lord’s church. For the child of God failing is inexcusable. Our heavenly Father has provided everything we need to live victoriously.
