BE CAREFUL NOT TO FALL

“So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!’’ - 1 Corinthians 10:12 (NIV)

''Don’t be so naive and self-confident. You’re not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it’s useless. Cultivate God-confidence'' -  (MSG)

The above admonition of Apostle Paul to the church in Corinth around AD 55 is still very apt and relevant in our generation. There are many people who started very well with God but had their good records or testimonies stained before reaching the end of their journeys on earth. 

For example, Noah was a righteous man, perfect/blameless among the people of his time. He walked with God for a while but missed it before he reached the finish line (Genesis 6:9, 7:1). He succeeded in building the ark which took him many years in the midst of wicked people. However, those impeccable records of his was stained after the flood. According to Genesis 9:20-24, one day, that same great preacher of righteousness suddenly became drunk from the wine he produced from his vineyard. Then, he uncovered himself, and Ham his son saw his nakedness. There is no doubt that Noah’s drunkenness after the flood is a lesson that even great people of faith can also stumble or fall. 

Like Noah, King David also had a good walk with God for a while before he eventually committed adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of one of his soldiers- Uriah. While the Israelite soldiers were busy winning the war against the people of Ammon, king David, who remained in Jerusalem, was losing the battle to adultery. He had become complacent and lowered his spiritual guard to the extent that he could not resist the sight of a naked woman. Then, David went ahead to kill Uriah to cover up his dirty track (2 Samuel 11). Today, just as David is still being remembered for killing Goliath, he is also not forgotten for killing Uriah whose wife he impregnated and married. 

Samson is another good example of someone who didn’t take heed to avoid a fall. An undisciplined lifestyle led him to love a woman in the Valley of Sorek, who eventually brought him down. The Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes, and humiliated him. Eventually, he died with his enemies prematurely (Judges 16:4-30). 

Also, King Uzziah was a very successful king. God marvelously helped him. His fame spread as far as the entrance of Egypt, for he became exceedingly strong. But his success went to his head. He was unfaithful to God and intruded into the office of a priest by entering the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar. God warned but he wouldn’t listen and he became leprous. Despite Uzziah’s previous good record, he went astray towards the end of his reign (2 Chronicles 26:16-20).

Beloved, if you think you’re standing firm now, you better be very careful lest you fall. The above examples clearly shows that it is possible for genuine believers to fall by the way before reaching the finish line. Therefore, we must always strive and trust God for grace to finish the Christian race well. We must never lower our guards especially after a season of success because that is one of the period that the devil usually strikes. While celebrating, we must be extremely careful not to engage in sinful pleasures that can spoil, stain, or discredit our past achievements and walk with God. 

The lyrics of this wonderful hymn below reiterates the admonition to the church in 1 Corinthians 10:12. 

BE CAREFUL By Charles H. Gabriel, 1896

1. Little feet, be very careful where you go,

As in life you daily travel to and fro;

Never for a moment stray

From the straight and holy way;

Oh, be careful, be careful, little feet.

2. Little hands, be very careful what you do,

Wrong or thoughtless actions you will surely rue;

Into mischief never go,

For ’tis very wrong, you know;

Oh, be careful, be careful, little hands.

3. Little ears, be very careful what you hear,

When the tempter whispers to you, danger’s near;

Though he promise everything,

Every promise is a sting!

Oh, be careful, be careful, little ears.

4. Little hearts, be very careful to be true,

Love the Lord and He will surely care for you;

Jesus will not enter in

Where there is the least of sin;

Oh, be careful, be careful, little hearts.

My prayer is that you and I will not stumble or fall on this holy journey till we reached the finish line. May we never engage in any activity that will rubbish or stain our good record or make people not remember the good that we did in the past.

Good day and God bless you. 

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

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