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Guarding Against Temptation

On July 25, 1911, a circus stuntman named Bobby Leach went over Niagara Falls in a specially designed steel drum and lived to tell about it. Although he suffered minorinjuries, he survived because he recognized the tremendous dangers involved in the feat, and he had done everything he could to protect himself from harm.

Amazingly, several years later while visiting New Zealand, Bobby Leach slipped on an orange peel, badly fracturing his leg. Gangrene set in and he was taken to a hospital where he died of complications from that fall. Just think — he received a greater injury walking down the street than he sustained in going over Niagara Falls! The reason? He was not prepared for danger in what he assumed to be a safe situation.

Some of the great temptations that roar around us like the rushing waters of Niagara will leave us unharmed, while a small, seemingly insignificant incident may cause our downfall. Why? We simply become careless and do not recognize the potential danger (1 Peter 5:8). We mistakenly think we are secure (1 Corinthians 10:12).

We must always be on guard against temptation (Matthew 26:41; Luke 22:40; Luke 22:46). A victorious Christian is an alert Christian who watches out even for those little “orange peels” (Ephesians 5:15-17). The Lord will reward such a Christian (James 1:12).

Take the name of Jesus ever
As a shield from every snare;
If temptations round you gather,
Breathe that holy name in prayer. —Baxter