The Danger of Drifting

“Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God;’ for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. James 1:13-16

Taking the small, inflatable raft, he went out just beyond the wave break where he could relax and enjoy the coolness of the ocean water. He had left his glasses with his wife on the beach. Though his vision was blurry, he kept telling himself, “I can still see the shore.” Soon, the sound of the lifeguard’s horn and shouts of onlookers signaled that he had drifted out into dangers water, never feeling the silent pull of the ocean’s undertow.

Sin often operates this way in the life of a believer. Satan begins by tempting us to deviate only slightly from God’s principles. Then he watches for our reaction. Do we find sin palatable or nauseating? Spiritual drifting begins with the words, “I know I probably shouldn’t do this, but I don’t see any harm in doing it just once.” Before you drift into harm’s way and away from the fellowship of God, ask Him to surface any area of sin you may be harboring.

Very few of us successfully resist rationalized sin the second time around. The man who eats a hot fudge sundae and concludes that it doesn’t make him fat is deceived. Make the wise choice to obey and avoid the danger of drifting.

God’s principles are for application by everyone in every circumstance.