Statement three... a final thought...

I mentioned in Part 1 that we would return to the thought of security that the people entering the cave found after speaking the word "Friend" in a foreign language.  I would like to return to that point, as promised, to bring the real truth out in this (and any) move from one place of perceived danger into another place of perceived safety, so that I can be certain to share what is on my heart to share.

"I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture."

John 10:9, HCSB

These characters from this movie entered into the enclosed space, only one of them knowing that terrible danger awaited them.  But really, even when we walk through the Door and enter into our personal pasture for service, the only guaranteed place of perfect peace is in Heaven.  That means, Christian sibling, that while we are on this earth, we will always need to be wary of the possibility of impending danger.  There will never be a time in this corporeal form that we can let our guard down or assume that we are no longer in the sights of the enemy.

Granted, the film which I very loosely reference is a work of fiction, but it is written by a Christian scholar, and it is a very, very safe bet that the imagery was not lost on him... and it should not be lost on you.  The Apostle Peter points out clearly that the enemy is ever-prowling, always ready for you or me or that guy or the lady over there to slip, even for just a moment, even for only a micrometer, so that he can grab hold of any one of us.  The description of a lion, which I almost always associate with either my wife's sorority or St. Mark, should be one of terrifying reality... because I would imagine that a hungry lion, seeing you limping and bleeding, has little concern for you at all, or anything you have, anyone you know, anything you represent.  That lion sees one thing, and that's dinner.

Again, from the film, the characters were at peace and calm for a bit, but they found themselves in an enclosed space, unable to escape without a difficult battle, and that battle came to them.  Are we so different?  We wander around, growing and growing, and then we have a peak moment, and forget that valleys exist, as well.  Then in an instant, we think ourselves better than those who are tempted, we figure we are walking into a safe space, we allow our guard to slip, and we end up either an appetizer, a main course, or a dessert.  And why?  I'll tell you: complacency was allowed to surface, and humility was pushed aside.

Be mad or offended if you choose, but the only truth that can remain has to be what actually happened.  And since "the devil made me do it" isn't going to carry water for any saved Christian (because to be saved, you must believe that Jesus resides in you, and the devil cannot make you do anything), and "I figured it wouldn't be that bad" is ridiculous (because we know, as saved Christians, that sin is sin, and all of it is bad), then all we're left with is that we got arrogant, assumed we could handle the temptation on our own, and we did the only thing we are capable of when left to our own devices: WE FAILED!!!

However, as pointed out in all the points on this Statement, Christ is the Door to return to, cross through once again in our own personal sheep gate, and be cleansed and/or renewed to move forward.  Regurgitation of the failure serves no purpose, because that is similar to a dog returning to its own vomit (ref. Proverbs 26:11), and who wants that?  Christ Himself, just two chapters earlier in this same Gospel, exhorts that we should "Go, and sin no more (John 8:11)," so why would we do anything less? 

Speak CHRIST, and enter through the Door!

God bless you all!!!