Yet the roads were not completely free of danger. Many of the bridges and overpasses still had ice on them. I drove more slowly than usual and diligently watched the road ahead of me. I didn’t want to be suddenly surprised by a patch of slippery ice. I had no intention of skidding off the road. I was grateful to make it to and from work that day. It was a relief to pull into my driveway that night.
Yes well - I was in my driveway, but I hadn’t made it inside my house. The sidewalk leading to my front door is in shadow most of the day. Not much of the ice had thawed. I managed to make it to within three or four feet of my front steps. Ice is so very slippery when you walk on it. I took a couple of steps and stopped. My husband, home before me, was standing at the top of the steps ready to help if I made it that far. I stood still for a few seconds while I pondered my next move.
“I don’t think I can make it,” I said.
Robert told me the way to the other door wasn't icy. "You can come in the back door."
“Really? It’s clear all the way to the steps?”
“Yes,” he said “and there’s no ice on the steps either. That side of the house sees more sunlight.” Then he told me he would meet me there.
Naturally, I backed off the ice and went to the other door. And yes, I breathed a great sigh of relief once I was inside. Later that night I thought about the ice on the roads and on our sidewalk. Did I say yet that ice is slippery? Approaching it with less caution on the road could have caused a wreck and serious damage to my car and/or myself. Approaching carelessly on foot could have caused similar results. I could have fallen and injured myself.
Being watchful kept me safe. Being watchful is what keeps us spiritually safe too. The devil would be so happy if we merrily went through life throwing caution to the wind and never thinking about the consequences to our souls. He doesn’t want us to be watchful that’s for sure. He would much rather see us step carelessly onto some slippery sliver of sin he throws our way. The devil would love nothing more than to see Christians fall - wrecking our lives just as skidding on an icy road could wreck our car.
We can’t do that! We cannot let the devil win. Watch for the dangers out there. Peter warns us that the devil is our adversary walking about seeking to devour us. Scriptures urge us as Christians to be ever watchful as we go about our daily lives. While praying in the Garden of Gethsemane before His death, Jesus told His disciples “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41 ESV) This is just as true for us today!
In Matthew 16:6 Jesus also warns His followers against the particular perils of following the false leaders. “Jesus said to them, ‘Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” (ESV) Christ wants us to be ready to meet Him one day. He loves us dearly and wants to take us home with Him. He came to seek and save the lost. That was His mission. It is why we must give particular heed to His warnings.
Jesus really does want to take us to Heaven. That is why He tells us in Luke 21:34-35: “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth.” Don’t fall into the devil’s trap. Don’t be fooled into thinking the way we live does not matter.
The world is full of allurements and temptations of all kinds. The prince of the world is artfully deceptive. He would have us believe all the roads are clear. We can be tricked into thinking there will be no consequences for yielding to temptation. We may get the idea that no harm can come from walking along with the crowd. Then before we know it, we’ve skidded off the path and wrecked.
Perhaps we think we can make it safely through a few feet of sin. Maybe we allow ourselves into thinking that we can forget about God on our short weekend away and then walk safely up the steps and into our home. Ah, but sin is slippery, too! It is just as dangerous to our souls as the ice is to our bodies. We can’t let ourselves be fooled or before we know it, we will find ourselves slipping and sliding away from our hopes for a heavenly home.
The Bible warns us to watch out for sin. Paul tells us in Romans 16:17 to watch out for those who would cause divisions among us and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine of Christ. Galatians 5:15 tells us if we bite and devour one another, we should watch out so as not to be consumed by one another. Paul also tells Timothy to keep a close watch on himself and his teaching so that he can save himself and his hearers. (I Timothy 4:16) Over and over again, the scriptures teach us to be careful, watchful, diligent, faithful. It is a necessary ingredient in keeping us close to the Father.
That night standing there so still on the ice and afraid of falling, I had a way out. I was able to back track and find a way of escape to the warmth and safety of my home. How wonderful it is that God does that for us with sin … temptations … trials!! We have a way out. That is a promise made to you and me.
“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (I Corinthians 10:13 ESV) Now how great is this! Paul tells Christians temptation will come. The devil goes after Christians. That will be a common thing.
Paul says our God is faithful! He will always give us an escape route. We don’t have to wade through that temptation and hope for the best. The Father will help us endure our trials and overcome our temptations. We just have to watch for the way out and take it.
Ice is slippery. So is sin.
“Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.” (I Corinthians 16:13 NKJV)
If we are serious about our faith and determined to live for Jesus, our Savior – if we watch for and avoid slipping into sin – we will be blessed beyond measure.
“Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them.” (Luke 12:37)
Christ above all things,
Robin
