Keeping Watch

"No man knows how bad he is until he has tried to be goodThere isa silly idea that good people don't know what temptation means." -C.S. Lewis

I have heard some new converts to Christianity state they couldn't wait tofurther grow in the faith so that they would be spared temptation to sin. Isuppose that in their innocence, these individuals assumed a deeper level ofgodliness was akin to being on some sort of radiant pedestal whose walls areso high that not even sin can permeate them.

Just pick up a newspaper or ponder certain past media events, and you willsee that no man, not even the most vocal televangelists or small townpreachers, priests or Christian lay people are spared from the snares of evil.In fact, quite the opposite is true, and the reason for this is simple. Satanhas no need to bother those unbelievers he already has in his possession.So who does he seek to tempt most? Those who have committed their lives torighteousness!

In the Bible, we are told how Satan tried to tempt Christ while in thedesert fasting. Here he was, the Son of God, and even HE was not spared thewicked taunts of the adversary! If it happened to Jesus Christ, it will alsohappen to anyone who would follow him.

The foundation of righteousness is level and straight, but the detour to Hellis filled with potholes, bumps and cliffs, thus, we must progressever-vigilantly, doing the work of the Lord while also keepingwatch of where we are stepping.

When walking in a meadow of grazing cows, do we step in the piles of cowdung, or do we cautiously walk around them, avoiding any mess to our shoes?

The same is true with guarding what we expose our minds and eyes to. We maythink that peering briefly at pornography, or lulling in seductive daydreamsis no big deal, but there is no escaping the subtle harm such media playupon our inner being. Thinking patterns and how we relate to others canchange, and the more we pollute our clean cistern with dirty waters, the moreclouded our vessel becomes, until one day it is undrinkable.

Thankfully, our heavenly Father, is quick to hear our cries of assistanceduring such times of temptation, and to toss us the life-preserver of Hisliving word. However, it is up to us to take that first step towardpreservation. Alone we are nothing, but through Jesus Christ, all things arepossible!

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Contributed by Melanie Schurr (Copyright (c)2003 Melanie Schurr) Melanie Schurr is author of "Ecstatic Living Ecstatic Loving: How to have more peace and joy in marriage, and life in general by walking in harmony with God," and "Son Salutations: A refreshing collection of modern inspirations for those who seek God each day." For more information, visit her web page at www.angelfire.com/mi/melschurr