LETTING YOUR GUARD DOWN

And Noah began to be a farmer, and he planted a vineyard.  Then he drank of the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in his tent.  (Gen.9:20-21)

There are millions of germs—and some of them deadly—floating around us.  Our immune system protects us, but those bacteria are always probing for a weakness in our body’s defenses.  Sin works like that—a virus looking for an opportunity.  We cannot let our guard down.  Sadly, Noah did.  Being close to God did not eradicate the possibility of sin.  He walked with God, but he would still stumble.  He was used of God to preserve the human race, yet failed to preserve his testimony.  The reality is there are no spiritual heights we can climb from which we may not fall!  There is no experience with God on this side of heaven that will eradicate the potential of yielding to temptation.  In fact, one of the most dangerous times in a believer’s life is after a great spiritual victory.  Our tendency is to relax, and when we let out guard down—Satan pounces!  That’s how Peter could go from being commended for his confession of Christ as the Son of the Living God one minute and being rebuked as Satan the next!  “Rocky” let his guard down, and was decked by the Devil.

Noah responded to the global crisis with victorious faith, but failed in the mundane matters of daily life.  For all the good he did, there is this stain on his record.  Even worse, there was a ripple effect in his family!  D.L. Moody, an evangelist mightily used of God, prayed earnestly late in life that God would take him home before sin ruined his testimony.  Thus, he kept his guard up.  As I approach six decades of life, I find myself pleading with God in the same way.  What people tend to remember about us is the last thing—may the last thing be a good thing!  We want to go out with our head held high rather than hanging in shame—to run through the finish line and not stumble down the homestretch.  Paul was able to finish strong.  I want to finish with a sizzle and not a fizzle!  Here is a better last will and testament:

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.   have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.  (2 Timothy 4:6-8)

May God help us keep our guard up!