Pitfalls & Quicksand

Remember the old video game Pitfall? (I know I might be dating myself, but I am not really that old.) It was a classic game that was exciting to most, after all, at the time it was the thing...today, it would be considered a dinosaur compared to the games that are out there today.

Well anyways... I got thinking about this old game when I was doing my devotions this morning. I was reading from Ephesians 5:15-17 - Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, [16] making the most of your time, because the days are evil. [17] So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Two thoughts caught my attention as I was reading...

First, was in verse 15, and in another version of the Bible it says to "walk circumspectly" and the idea that it is giving to the reader is that we must walk with caution as one would walk through dangerous and rough terrain. I couldn't help but think of how dangerous and difficult it is to navigate our lives through this world. So much so, that even well meaning people fail at their attempts every day. Which tells me that good intentions are not good enough...you know what they say about good intentions? The key then, for us to walk with this wisdom is not found within ourselves...it is found within God. We need the Lord, and verse 18 tells us that we must "be filled with the Spirit." In the context of the passage here, "being filled" is not a one time event, but instead it must be done on a continual basis. Then, we are best equipped to walk circumspectly...as the Spirit of God leads and directs us.

The second thing that captured my attention was in verse 16, "redeeming the time." I love this thought because it goes in direct opposition to what the world says. It tells us that what we "do in Vegas, stays in Vegas." However, we must remember that God sees all, and He doesn't let things slide. We have to redeem the time because there is an enemy of our souls who will capitalize on every moment in order to get us to compromise and stumble...he attempts to hurl us into the pitfalls and quicksand of life. We must redeem the time because, as the verse goes on to say, "the days are evil." They do want to lead us to misfortune and demise. The day and age that we live in is peppered with compromise and easy living, but we must not yeild to it all. We cannot yeild to the mantra of our society. We have to be like those salmon who swim upstream...we must go against the culture of our day if we are going to be successful at avoiding the pitfalls and quicksand of our world.

So friends, walk with caution as you traverse this world. And remember that we are pilgrims just passing through. This old world IS NOT our home. Hebrews 13:14 - For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come.