So, as the folks at Clover know, I fell a couple of weeks ago. Wish it was a better story, but there were no heroics; I just slipped and fell. I was trying to wrestle a pontoon boat onto a trailer, slipped, and slammed into the trailer on the way down.
Of course, getting injured is never fun. Despite a small ding to the pride, a couple of stitches in the knee, and some back pain, I’ll be ok. It certainly could have been worse.
The fall reminded me, though, how quickly we can lose our footing and injure ourselves. And if physically slipping causes an ER trip, just imagine what can happen from a spiritual fall. A sprained back and banged knee are no fun; but a damaged soul can end in disaster!
In fact, falling is such a dangerous and important topic that we describe all of man’s experience in Adam as “The Fall.” Paul warns us to be careful that we do not fall from grace (Galatians 5:4). Peter warns us to be on guard against a “fall from your own steadfastness,” (2 Peter 3:17).
So what can we do? We can’t undo the fall. That’s done. There is no going back.
But, moving forward, there are two solutions:
- First, we need to see the great physician. When I went to the doctor, they examined me, cleaned out the wound, and patched it up. Going to the Lord when we sin is similar. We honestly confess, ask for healing through forgiveness, and receive treatment.
- Secondly, we need to do our best to remain on solid ground. The sure footing of salvation is in God alone. Scripture warns that we had better be careful so we don’t fall, especially when we think we are “fine” (1 Corinthians 10:12).
We all slip in sin. When we do, John comforts us with these words: “if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;” (1 John 2:21). He picks us up when we fall and helps us to stand securely when we live in Him!
