Nope! This is not a confession of sin and moral failure. This is not a juicy and sordid tale of a minister falling into sin. This is just a simple report of physically falling down today.
Have you every taken a fall or tripped over something? I had a paternal grandmother who fell down every set of stairs in her home in the final years of her life. That was five sets of stairs by the way! I am not confessing or claiming any generational curse, by the way. She never broke any bones as I recall. Just yesterday I wrote about claiming and praying Psalms 91 every day the blog titled, Lead Me to the Rock! I mentioned NOT turning problems over to God and that His holy angels may have been standing nearby waiting for me to let them help.
Today’s Fall Examined!
I thought about that today as I went tumbling to the ground earlier. You see, I just returned home from seeing
Amazingly I did not fall on the tiled cement sidewalk in front of me. Instead I fell to the side with both hands hitting the gravel covered ground. Only my right knee struck the cement sidewalk. It seemed like my verbal reaction was something like a roar. Within seconds after a fall you begin to take stock of your situation and give a quick physical examination. To my delight the skin on my hands was not broken nor the skin on my right knee. Later I realized that my face did not hit the ground and my glasses did not even fall off. Praise God!
That is exactly what I began to do. I praised God for His Protection! At one point I thought of Psalms 91 wondering where the angels were at that time. Personally I believe they helped direct my fall into the gravel which cushioned my weight. I am convinced that God’s angels were witnesses to my fall today. Why didn’t they prevent it, you might ask? I am not sure why.But, I have not doubt they were there standing nearby preventing serious injury.
Analysis of My Fall
1. I was distracted reading an electric bill not watching where I was going.
2. There was a sense of overconfidence. Been here before! Already done this!
3. Lost my direction. I was turning around not noticing where I was stepping.
4. I was just plain careless. Too relaxed and too much at home! Vulnerable!
5. Poor judgment as to position and height of the two steps.
6. Carrying too much baggage. Books, papers, water bottle, brief case etc.
7. Not on guard and had no sense of impending danger or harm.
Scriptural Basis
Psalms 91:11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. NIV
Is the Bible true or not? Why do we fall, have accidents, and experience illness? Why don’t the angels provide protection so that we are not touched by these problems? Is that really God’s Will that we do not experience problems, trials or tragedy?
Stumble kashal; to totter or waver (through weakness of the legs, especially the ankle); to falter, stumble, faint or fall: KJV - fail, fall, to be weak. (Strong's Numbers & Concordance)
It would appear that even before the actual fall that there are conditions or situations which may provide the circumstances or opportunity for the fall to take place. In other words, I was an accident waiting to happen today. I was tired, distracted, overconfident, loaded down withextra baggage - too much to carry and be able to safely negotiate my path today. When someone stumbles it is likely there was some form of weakness or wavering taking place prior to the actual fall.
Spiritual Application
The comparisons between a spiritual fall and natural fall are numerous. I can imagine the Jew walking along a dark path and stubbing their foot against an unseen rock that had fallen into their way. Wearing a sandal type of shoe would afford little protection against injury from stray stones. The Bible often speaks of the fall of mankind in the Garden of Eden. We read of the Fall of Israel as God’s chosen people (Rom 11:11-12)
Prov 4:18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. 19 The way of the wicked is as darkness:they know not at what they stumble KJV
Isa 40:30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: KJV
2 Samuel 11:2-27 is the account of the tragic fall of King David as he took another man’s wife and caused the death of her husband.
1 Kings 11:1-11 The Bible records the spiritual fall of Solomon because his many foreign wives led him into practicing idolatry.
We all can speak from experience of personal examples of spiritual falls. If we are honest, most of us have fallen spiritually at some time in our lives. Many believers have even “fallen” into a pattern of spiritual failure that seems to run in cycles. The repetition may vary in length or frequency. This repeated plunge into rebellion and sin indicates a deep seated problem that is not solved when the individual goes forward in a church meeting repenting with tears. Are they forgiven and are their sincere in their repentance? The Bible is clear on the issue of God forgiving a repentant soul. In the fact, Jesus warned the disciples what their responsibility was in forgiving a brother who sinned against them. Matt 18:21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. KJV 1 Also read John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. NIV
It is a great temptation to spend more time of this aspect of falls. As I prayed today about this blog my mind kept going back to a minister I met in the
Preventing Falls
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. How true this expression is today. If we could just “prevent” cancer then billions would be saved in health care and thousands of lives would be spared. If divorce could be “prevented” how much healthier the American society would be today. The list goes on and on. Is it possible to prevent spiritual falls? In my opinion the answer to this question is yes. God created man and has provided the means for man to serve God upon this earth. To say God cannot save and preserve a righteous seed on the earth is to diminish His Sovereign Power. From our perspective this is a tough balancing act. God has all power, but He made man with free will. He does not force us to serve Him or to obey His Word. We have the ability to either live for God or to “blow it”! Some how God is able to respect our will, yet influence us to choose to serve Him.
So much in the Word of God is available to fallen mankind that will make us victorious during our sojourn on earth. Let’s take a few minutes to recount the blessings and benefits that are ours!
1. God’s Love. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. KJV
2. The Blood of Jesus. 1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
3. Power of Prayer. Matt 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. KJV
4. Jesus Intercedes for us. Rom 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. KJV 1 John 2::1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Jude 24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, KJV
5, The Word of God. Psa 119:9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. KJV Ps 119:11Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. KJV Psa 119:133 Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me. NIV
6. Brotherly Love & Care. James 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. KJV
7. The Holy Spirit. Rom 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. NIV John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. KJV Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in
Conclusion
Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; KJV Every person born upon the face of the earth has a sin problem. The sin nature of Adam has been passed down to each of us. We are all in need of forgiveness and redemption. We must realize that each of us has the potential to fall and to fail to obey and serve God as He intends for us. Just to realize there is a possibility of failure should cause us to be more cautious as we travel our Christian path.
What about us or others, when we actually have sinned and fallen hard? It might interest you to know that this blog is being written three days after I fell down. Notice I am not still on the ground. Elementary my Dear Watson, some might say! For Heaven’s Sake, when you fall get up! I learned from my past fall. Today I walked into the yard again carrying two bags and even a medium sized bag of cans and bottles to be thrown out. Too much baggage again? No, this time I was on guard and took time to look where I was going. I stopped by the place that marked my previous fall. There are two areas visible where my hands dug deep into the gravel that cushioned my fall. Then I gave a brief, but sincere praise to God who protected me.
God protected me during a fall and today He protected me from another fall. It may sound radical, but I believe God is with His children when they fall! He doesn’t want us to sin or disobey Him. The Bible warns us to not grieve the Holy Spirit. Some may accuse me of being too soft on sin and the sinner. But, I further believe, that if we refuse to repent that we can be lost! Oh God help us to literally hate sin, but still love the sinner! How hard the church has been in years past, especially on young people. They were criticized for their clothes, hair and told what they could not do and where all they could not go. A long list was read to us at least once a quarter. Older people who in the past had also fallen spiritually treated the younger people who had fallen as if they had never done so themselves. What hypocrisy!
I, for one, am very thankful that God forgave King David of murder and adultery. I hope Solomon repented before he died. I am so glad that denying cussing Peter went out and repented after denying his Savior. I am so glad that the persecutor of the early church Saul met and recognized Jesus who he had persecuted. How many more wonderful fallen people are waiting for someone to give them a hand and help them get up again? Sure, discipline is a biblical principle and should be used as long as it leads to redemption and restoration! It is best to NEVER fall, but when or if it happens remember one thing. Get up and repent!
Jude 1:23-25 (NIV)
23 snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. 24 To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
May God bless you as you walk with Him!
Dan Corbett
“Reaching One Among Millions”
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