Undercurrent taking you down?

I write this, dear children, to guide you out of sin. But if anyone does sin, we have a Priest-Friend in the presence of the Father: Jesus Christ, righteous Jesus. When he served as a sacrifice for our sins, he solved the sin problem for good—not only ours, but the whole world’s. Here’s how we can be sure that we know God in the right way: Keep his commandments. (I John 2:1-3 MSG)

I have said this before, but it bears repeating - we ALL sin - it isn't so much the 'if' we sin as much as 'when' we sin. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, stands at the ready for the 'when' moments as much as he does at any other time in our lives. The 'sin problem' we all have is that we are born with a nature that is 'bent toward' sin and heeds its call way too frequently. The 'sin solution' we all have access to is Christ's presence within us to both know and keep his commands, not simply through our own willpower, but with his tremendous power that dwells within those who have made him their Lord and Savior.

We aren't just magically 'sin-free' in terms of never facing temptation again. We might be made right with God through the blood of Jesus, standing as forgiven, whole, and 'perfect' in his sight, but we still have this pull toward sin that must be constantly overcome. This is why we need to be 'guided' out of sin - we need to understand how to 'tap into' this new nature of Christ that dwells within, standing strong against temptation's mighty appeals. Compromise will ALWAYS be available - sin will ALWAYS be a part of this world until Jesus comes again and does away with Satan and his demonic forces. Until then, we must 'tap into' this marvelous grace and power of Jesus that continually makes us new each morning.

Keeping his commandments isn't always going to be easy - the easiest path is usually that laid out by temptation, but it also carries the hardest and most dangerous consequences. We don't want those consequences, do we? We want to walk free of those entanglements but may not realize just how easily we are 'caught up' in them until we are going down for the count! The one swimming in the ocean, merely enjoying the coming and going of the waves, may not realize how many 'entanglements' await just beneath the surface. Kelp beds may be hidden below; undercurrents may be churning; and structural changes in the sea's surface may not be easily observed. 

In much the same way, sin's pull isn't always easily observed, and we can be lulled into believing we are 'safe' even though there are many hidden dangers lurking to 'take us down'. We need God's protection, don't we? We cannot always 'read' the signs of danger, but his Spirit who dwells within can give us ample warning that we are about to tread into dangerous waters. Listen closely to that still small voice within and you might just find that you are able to resist sin's offered compromise a bit quicker. Just sayin!