Caution Tripping Hazard by
Ayla87 at freeimages.com
Most all of us have been to high points overlooking a deep canyon, valley, or waterfall. Most of these are now located in some type of park and our government has erected barriers or guards to keep people from getting too close to the edge. They often will have warning signs, telling sightseers to be careful about slipping, going beyond the barrier, or letting kids run loose. The view is spectacular at such sights, but the danger is real. The temptation is there to get as close as possible, yet certain death awaits the one of falls over the side.
This scenario illustrates our spiritual lives. We can fall from the grace we have been given in Christ. Paul tells false teachers in the Galatian churches that they “have fallen from grace” (Gal. 5:4). The book of Hebrews is written to encourage the Jewish Christians to not fall from grace. The preacher says, “we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.” (Heb. 10:39). So all of us as Christians must consider how close are we walking to this soul-losing fall?
God created spiritual barriers to help guard our souls from falling away. How many do you need to remove before you will be at the edge?
- Regular Bible study, as in personal reading and in attending Bible school, is certainly a barrier (Rom. 10:17, 2 Tim.2:15).
- Regular worship attendance is certainly a barrier meant to encourage us (Heb. 10:25-26).
- Daily and habitual prayer time where we communicate with God is a strong barrier (1 Thes. 5:17). Daniel kept this barrier up as a strong guard in his life (Daniel 6:10).
- Christian fellowship is another barrier that God requires of us knowing that we need the mutual encouragement (Phil. 2:1-2).
- The guidance and watchfulness of elders and fellow Christians who care for your soul (Heb. 13:17).
- One barrier is a tender, Biblically educated conscience that is sensitive to sin in your life. This conscience convicts and leads you to repentance when in sin (2 Cor. 7:8-11).
Now how many barriers do you have up in your life? How close are you from falling away and loosing your soul? People don’t usually commit spiritual suicide by just running off the cliff, they slowly let barriers come down until they fall to Satan’s temptation and leave the Lord. Will you determine to put up more barriers in your life?
