The Edge

“Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” - 2 Timothy 2:22

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” - 1 Peter 5:8-9 NIV

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” - James 4:7-8 NIV

Most every day, I will climb on the elliptical for 30-45 minutes, or ride the stationary bike for 15 to 30 minutes, or both. Usually while I’m working out like that, I am watching a Sports related show on the gym monitor and jamming out to some of my favorite music while keeping an eye on the distance I’ve gone, the calories burned, the steps taken.

I’m not sure why it is, but I have this habit that when one of the monitors get to 659, 660, 661, I’ll watch it right up until it gets to 664 or 665. Then I’ll quickly turn my head and commit not to look at the monitor again until it moves on to 670 or so.

What’s funny is that I’m usually not aware of the monitor numbers until those set of numbers roll around again. So on any given workout, I can make that commitment not to look 3, 4 or 5 times.

It also happens if I track steps during the day and with my car’s odometer. I’m completely unaware of the steps or mileage until those numbers creep up.

Then I’ll watch it right up to the edge, then turn away.

Isn’t that just like us?

Why is it that we’ll walk right to the edge of the cliff before we turn and walk away? Why is it that we’ll straddle the line in the sand and then stop and watch? Why it that we walk the wall that separates right from wrong, good from bad, the enemy’s way from God’s way?

Never quite crossing the line, just like I never quite look at the number. But pushing it right to the edge.

But the Bible beseeches us to “flee evil.”

Jesus Himself tells us that because we are nether hot nor cold but lukewarm, He will spit us from His mouth.

Yet there we are, time and time again, right up to the edge. Pushing the boundaries and the limits, the shiny apple waiting for us to take a bite.

When will we heed the warnings, when we will we stop flirting with disaster, when will we get so close to the edge that we slip and fall? Our enemy, the devil, is like a lion looking for someone to devour.

Wake up, O sleeper, Wake up.

Keep the Faith... Carpe Diem

"These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” - Revelation 3:14