I heard some distressing news about a former co-worker today. The disturbing news was about a person whom I perceived as a committed follower of Christ Jesus.
It wasn't so much what this person had done that was distressing to me (although it was distressing indeed). It was the fact that it could have been anyone that did it. The fact that our faith, no matter how solid our footing or how firm our stance, is so very fragile.
It occurred to me that this is why it is so vitally important to immerse ourselves in Heaven's culture. To put on the armor that Paul teaches about. All it takes is the slightest stumble, and the enemy exploits it for all it is worth. Our enemy will take the smallest opportunities to sink his claws as deeply into our minds as they will go (Genesis 4:7).
Look at the example we are given in King David (2 Samuel 11:14-15). He was a man described as one after God's own heart. Even he stumbled.
There is one thing that the enemy seems to forget. Something that we ourselves resist when we are in the throws of our sin. The power of the conviction of God's Holy Spirit. He hounds us, and we are driven back to our Father. (Luke 15:17-24) We are welcomed back with forgiveness and true joy.
For those of us who have been there, quite a few I would suspect, we know the feeling of the weight being lifted by the forgiveness washing over us as we kneel before our Wise Father and confess our sins to Him. (Romans 8:1, Jude 1:24)
Thank You, Father, for Your grace and mercy. Thank You for the realization of how fragile my faith is and that apart from You, I can do nothing.
God is AWESOME!
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