Stay out of the tall grass

The number one survival tip for avoiding a snake bite is to stay out of the tall grass. Sounds simple, right? If you want to avoid snake bites, it's best to avoid snakes. The best way to do that is to stay away from the places where snakes are most likely to be.

It's the same way with avoiding sin.

If you're familiar with the book "Pilgrims Progress" you might remember what happened when the central character, Christian decides to take a different path that seemed more pleasant at first, only to find himself in a situation that almost cost him his life. Fortunately for Christian, he was able to escape his captivity in Doubting Castle. He learned his lesson and never made the mistake of leaving the narrow path again.

If only Christian had taken this advice from King David, he could have avoided Doubting Castle altogether:

Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on.
Proverbs 4:14-15 (ESV)

The Bible warns what happens when we leave the narrow path and wander outside of God's will:

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
Corinthians 6:9-10

If you're a recovering alcoholic, does it make sense to hang out in bars? Of course not!  If you've fallen into the sin of adultery and repented, you need to stay out of situations that could lead to a reoccurrence of that sin.

But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
James 1:14

If you find yourself in a situation that could lead you into sin, you need to get out of the situation as fast as you can.

Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
2 Timothy 2:22

If we're serious about staying on the narrow path that leads to life, then we must avoid the situations that put us face-to-face with temptation. This seems self-evident, and yet so many of us struggle with this. Why, because we're still battling our sinful nature.

That's why it's important to do whatever we can to avoid being tempted in the first place.

John Stott, who was noted as a leader of the worldwide evangelical movement, provides this crucial advice: “True, we are also told to withstand the devil, so that he may flee from us. But we are to recognize sin as something dangerous to the soul. We are not to come to terms with it, or even negotiate with it. We are not to linger in its presence like Lot in Sodom. On the contrary, we are to get as far away from it as possible as quickly as possible. Like Joseph, when Potiphar’s wife attempted to seduce him, we are to take to our heels and run.”

That's great advice. Jesus also provided some advice on this subject:

Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Matthew 26:41

We need to understand that temptation isn't sin, but giving in to temptation is.

Remember to not only pray for your own protection but pray for your pastors and all your brothers and sisters in Christ as well.

God bless you as you cling to the narrow path that leads to life,
Daniel

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