.....Cometh the Fall

"The pride of your heart has deceived you........you who say to yourself, 'Who can bring me down to the ground?'" Obadiah 1:3.

The church we attend here in Chattanooga TN is going through a series entitled, At the Movies, and this week's movie was 127 Hours.  If you have not seen this movie as I have, then you are in for a, well, very interesting show, but one I highly recommend.  Aaron Ralston's story taught us a great deal, and our pastor taught us a lot about the pride before the fall through illustrations from the movie.

What is it about pride that seems to blind us to the impending danger ahead in life?  I truly believe that our pride comes not from within us, but from the spiritual being, manifested as Satan, whom we battle on a daily basis.  You want a prime example of pride before the fall, Satan wanted the top job and was relegated to the depths of Hell because of it. Talk about one helluva fall.........get it, HELL of a fall..............yah, anyway.

We do not really battle ourselves.  That means we have to give ourselves way more credit than we deserve and it puts us on a spiritual playing field with God and Satan that I don't think we quite belong.  Now, I am no expert in theological studies and spiritual warfare, but I am smart enough to understand that there is a serious battle going on in some other dimension.  That battle is for control of our souls...........and Satan is winning (not over God, but over us) through the pride he tempts us with.  Pride would have to be his most effective tool for pulling us out of relationship with God.  Why? Because we think we can do it alone without Christ's love.  His (Christ's) grace and mercy are the most effective tools he uses for intervention and rescue of us from our pride.

God is waiting with open arms when we find humility and come running back to Him. Satan is waiting with open arms when we want to come running back too.........funny thing is, he seems to step aside when we reach out for him and he just watches us fall.  And thus, our pride, at Satan's invite, comes before the fall.....

Ouch.

Just Walk Away.......

"My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent." Proverbs 1:10.

Who remembers the Garth Brooks song, Thunder Rolls?  Okay, so I am dating myself with that one, but does anyone remember the lyrics or what the storyline was about?  It is not the happiest song out there and sure as heck wasn't about a physical thunderstorm, at least in totallity.  This is about a husband who cheats and his wife finds out the hard way when he comes home late from his mistess' house. Does this sound familiar to anyone?  Maybe you have been touched by this type of messy situation.  Maybe you haven't.

Regardless, the one inarguable fact is that the guy should have walked away from some situation he never should have allowed himself into.  What causes us to push the limits?  Peer pressure is one EXCUSE we give.  True, our peers have a great amount of influence on what we do and when.  Sometimes, they throw out the "old double dog dare you" to do something you know in your heart you should not.  That's not your conscience telling you don't do it, that is God.  Remember this:

Conscience=God. Dont' believe anything less.

Proverbs gives the simple solution:  "....do not consent."  Hmm, easier said than done right?  Not always.  I am one of those people who likes to test the limits of temptation, as I am sure most of us do.  But I have recently been setting up safeguards for those areas where I know I am weak. 

Men, women and our eyes equals disastrous thoughts and actions.  Simple solution: turn your head, turn the channel, don't click the link, be nice but let them know you are married, WALK AWAY FROM "FRIENDS" WHO PRESSURE YOU INTO SOMETHING! 

In short, "....do not consent."