Resources/Articles
Living On The Edge
A man of means was interviewing men to drive his team of horses which pulled the carriage in which his family rode. The test was to drive the team of horses around a curve on a mountain road. On one side was a steep cliff which would be a disaster to those in the carriage if it plunged off the cliff. Those men who applied for the position each considered himself an expert. The first driver put the wheels of the carriage within an inch of the cliff. The second driver had more skill. He drove the team of horses so close part of the rim of the outside wheels was not even touching the ground. Another driver guided the team as far away from the edge of the cliff as he could. Which of these drivers do you suppose the man, who loved his family, hired?
The scriptures are clear and God’s wisdom is plain. “Abstain from every appearance of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:22). The edge is not a safe place. Temptation tampering is a dangerous profession. Most people who live on the edge of sin believe themselves to be experts. They are confident they will not wind up like their friends. “It won’t happen to me,” they say. “I’ve been around it enough and heart it enough to know I’m not going to do it.” Those were Peter’s famous last thoughts before he denied Jesus three times (John 13:36-38). Peter warmed himself too long by the fire like moths fluttering around a flame. People dally with sin the same way. They often know the danger. They know to yield would not only be wrong, but destructive to their soul, yet they get as “close to the border” as they can.
One of the most obvious characteristics of those who love living on the edge is the frequent discussions of gray areas. You hear people talk about how short to wear pants or dresses, working at a job requires missing a worship service, dancing (whether at home or at a prom), the kid of dancing (line, group, couple, etc.), smoking, drinking one beer, and using euphemisms in place of “hard core” profanity, etc. If the appearance is evil, should it not be avoided? There is no fellowship between light and darkness (2 Corinthians 6:14).
The one thing that always keeps me away from the edge is the fear of going over. We need to acquire the same fear. Fear of the destruction and ruinous nature of sin (Luke 12:4,5). We need to start putting on the the brakes (1 Corinthians 10:12). Read and heed the warning of the signs. Travel life with care. “Escape for thy life” (Genesis 19:17). How close are you to the edge? Get away from it! It’s dangerous.
