Avoiding a Fall

The Bible clearly warns that we can all fall. Of course, it is not referring to the physical falls that are so common among human beings. As a rule, it is easy to stumble, lose our balance, and fall to the floor

. I have often seen that, unless someone is badly hurt by the fall or is an elderly person who cannot get up without help, those who stumble and fall try to get up quickly while looking around, hoping no one saw them. The same thing happens when people stumble, even if they do not fall all the way down. The mere act of stumbling embarrasses us, even though it is a normal, everyday occurrence.

I do not know what dark reason lies behind our common habit of laughing or making fun of someone who falls. I have seen people who have fallen have to plead with those beside them: “Stop laughing and help me up.”

When Paul speaks of the possibility of falling, he recalls the history of God’s people in the Old Testament. They had seen the wonders God worked in freeing them from slavery in Egypt and how he miraculously fed and cared for them. Yet many fell into conduct that God despises and suffered the consequences of straying. For this reason, the apostle teaches us that no matter how many spiritual experiences believers have had, they must remain watchful, because anyone can fall into temptation or be led away from God’s purpose for their life.

Even those who have been Christians for a long time must never forget that their faithfulness is no guarantee against falling and ruining, in a moment, the testimony of a life lived over many years. Therefore, we must be humble and stay close to the Lord.

If you are a Christian who has faithfully followed the Lord for many years, I congratulate you and thank God for your life. But at the same time, I remind you that although Satan prowls like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8), a fall can be avoided if we live in humility and dependence on the Lord. Another proverb warns us: Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall (Proverbs 16-18).

Taking pride in our faithfulness is absurd and dangerous. The strength to remain faithful comes precisely from our humility and dependence on the Holy Spirit.

God bless you!