Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 (NIV)
Look within and around. What has sin ever done for us or for anyone else for that matter. Sin destroys leaving devastation in its wake. That’s why God is constantly telling us to flee from it. How many miserable souls are wounded by one sin after another? Sin never fulfills its promises either and always carries with it a death to something. It leaves behind a desire for more as it never fully satisfies rather keeps us wanting. Every temptation we willingly enter into brings snares upon us – entrapping and wooing us like the Siren’s Song. If, by playing it out to the end, we would realize how many have fallen terribly by entering into temptation we would be more careful than caviler when going down its path. It behooves us not to be negligent in this rather be on our guards. God will always provide a door of escape. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 (NIV): So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
Even if it seems harmless, we should be aware of the first rising of sin in our hearts and flee from it – turning and running in the other direction. When we give it time it often gets us. In our flesh we are weak in this but through God’s power – the indwelling Holy Spirit within every believer - we are made strong. He equips us to stand firm and He is faithful and able to do so. Remember, when we fall into sin we never come out unscathed. It is much better to flee than fall! Also, if we neglect a careful watch we are easy prey for the adversary – catching us unawares to do his bidding. He cares nothing for us and delights in our demise.
Remember, we easily fall into sin but holiness must be a pursuit. Beware of flattering ourselves and winking at sin thinking we are above falling. No one is above it – not even the most pious saint. That is why Scripture tells us to be careful. It is when we think we cannot fall that we are the most likely to do that very thing. We must stand on our watch and be aware of our weaknesses looking for breaches in our walls of self-control around us. Remember as well, every sin is against God Who died to set us free from it. We are not to continue to wallow in the pigpen of our own poor choices. Satan and self can take us down quick.
Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control. Proverbs 25:28 (NIV)