As Christians we have to constantly be on guard. We have to shield ourselves from temptations and bad situations. For many people, it's so easy to fall away from Christ. It's so easy to fall off the straight and narrow, and it can start with one little thing. This is why we must be diligent in guarding our hearts and minds and focusing on what's right.
We have a problem with apostasy. Apostasy is leaving your religious faith or abandoning a previous loyalty. I look around and realize there's tons and tons of people who used to attend church regularly but no longer do. Most of these people don't even try to live a righteous life. Everyone has their different reasons for leaving the church, but many of them left because they got lost in sin and the ways of the world. Usually this happens somewhat gradually. You miss a Sunday evening service here and there to watch a big game. Suddenly missing church doesn't feel so bad and it becomes more and more prevalent. Before long you realize you haven't been to a service in weeks. Many people will tell you that you don't have to go to church to worship God and that you don't have to go to church to be a good Christian. This is not true, and it's not taught in the Bible. God wants us to be at church services. He tells us not to forsake the assembly of the saints, and it's important that we be at church services to worship and encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ.
“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Hebrews 10:24-25
Maybe you're around people who use filthy language and suddenly you find yourself letting a few words slip. Before you know it you're constantly talking like this. Maybe you go to a party with your friends and they invite you to have a drink. You might have one drink and decide it's ok for you to continue drinking. Sexual sins are another example. It usually begins with one instance and leads to a plethora of problems and sins.
These situations may seem outlandish to some of you, but they're all possible. Some people can do things in moderation, and it never leads to anything worse, but some can't. Giving into temptation one time can lead to destruction. One small sin can lead to the downward spiral of an ungodly life.
The easiest way to avoid situations like this is to avoid sin and temptations. There's a quote that says, "It's a lot easier to avoid temptation than to resist it." Don't go to that party where you know everyone will be drinking. Don't go somewhere with your date that you'll be tempted to sin. Don't hang around people who use filthy language and people who use drugs. It's much easier to resist sin if we don't put ourselves around it.
If we constantly pray and stay in the word of God, it's much easier to resist temptations. We must surround ourselves with likeminded people who encourage us to do right and not push us closer to sin. If Jesus can resist temptations from Satan, so can we. We're going to sin; that's for sure. There will be times that all of us feel weak and give in to temptation. We'll never be perfect. We'll always make mistakes, but we have to try our best. It's important that we live a godly life to bring glory to His name and to set an example and bring others to Christ. We should all have a goal of getting to Heaven and bringing others with us. The great thing is, even if you're headed down the wrong path right now, it's not too late to change. God will forgive you and take you back with open arms.
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13.
