Ron Hutchcraft Ministries - Stopping What Will Sink You - #8264

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

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Most people want to get wax out of their ears. Well, in the ancient Greek myth of Ulysses, the title character put wax in his sailors’ ears. Why? Sirens! Not the fire truck kind, the beautiful women whose irresistible songs were luring sailors to their deaths on the rocks near their island. Ulysses played defense by having his men put wax in their ears to drown out the alluring tunes, and by having his men strap him to the mast so he couldn’t steer the ship in their direction. It worked!

I’m Ron Hutchcraft, and you know, that story says a lot. Don’t underestimate the power of temptation to lure you to the rocks–to disaster. And you’ve got to play aggressive defense is you want to keep from giving in and going down. The Bible’s been telling us that for a long time. It says, “If you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! When you are tempted God will provide a way out so you can stand up under it” (1 Corinthians 10:12-13 ).

Often when someone crashes morally or spiritually, they’ve overestimated their resistance and they’ve underestimated the power of sin. Our tendency is to see how close we can get to the edge of the cliff of sin or compromise without going over–a mistake that has cost so many so much. God does not want that to happen to you. Thus, today’s warning.

The Bible doesn’t tell us to fight temptation. It says to flee it! The song that sin sings may be beautiful, but the Bible makes clear: “Sin…gives birth to death” (James 1:15 ). Sin always kills. Plug your ears. Tie yourself to the mast. Don’t get anywhere close to what can destroy you!

This radio program references: 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 ; James 1:15