| by Alfio La Spina (Victoria British Columbia) |
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| 6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” (Genesis 4:6-7 NIV) We are faced with choices every day whether it be what we think about, say, or do. We get thoughts and many times these thoughts are not good ones, so we are faced with a decision whether to allow them to continue in our minds or cast them down. 13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. James 1:13-15 (NIV) If we allow bad thoughts to continue, we will find ourselves being quickly consumed by these thoughts then acting on them. This is sin crouching at the door. The slightest opening and it will pounce on us. This is part of the process of overcoming. Jesus said to the brethren of churches in Revelation if they would overcome, they would enter the Kingdom of God. (We individually must overcome.) Apostle Peter says: “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” (1 Peter 5:8-9 NIV) Paul says: “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5 NIV) Paul also says: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” (Ephesians 6:12 NIV) David made the mistake of allowing an evil thought to mingle in his mind and acted on it. Nothing good came of it. We read this in 2nd Samuel: “In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem. 2 One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, 3 and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” 4 Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her.” (2 Samuel 11:1-4 NIV) This is a good example of how easily this can happen if we are not on guard. Cain did not resist, and he killed his brother. David fell into the snare of sin also. So, what can we do not to fall into sin? First of all, we must pray daily that God shows us if there is anything in our hearts that must be removed. We need our Fathers help with this because the heart is deceitful above all things. We also need our brethren to help us. The book of Jeremiah says: “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? 10 “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.” (Jeremiah 17:9-10 NIV) Also, we must apply this formula daily that Peter gave us so that we will be productive and be strong. “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self- control; and to self- control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:3-8 NIV) Now in 2nd Peter 3 it says: “Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” (2 Peter 3:17-18 NIV) We must be mindful that our God is always near, and He hears and sees everything we do. Think of Him as being in the same room with you and be on your best behavior. Strive to always do what is right in every situation. Proverbs 4 says: “My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. 21 Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; 22 for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body. 23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. 24 Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. 25 Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.26 Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. 27 Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.” (Proverbs 4:20-27 NIV) |
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