Did you get any precipitation where you live? According to the news this morning, we have 8 inches of snow and there is more ice and freezing rain on the way. This is the most snow we’ve had in Georgia since I’ve lived here. Snow and ice in North Carolina, where I am from, was a common every winter. In fact, it was rare if we didn’t have any.
When I was 15 and had my learner’s permit we had a huge ice storm hit. My father had a brand new Audio 5000 and decided I ahould practice driving it on the ice. My mother thought he had lost his mind, but what I learned that day probably saved me more than once. A few years later I was in college. I was a commuter student at UNCG. They rarely canceled class for snow or ice. There was one day in particular when the sun had melted some of the snow and ice and they had cleared most roads. I was able to drive to class without any real difficulty. The problem occurred when I was driving home. The temperature had dropped while I was in class, refreezing some patches on the road. While the roads appeared clear in most places, there was black ice in several places. I was trying to be alert and drive carefully; however, I hit a patch of black ice as I approached an intersection. Because of my father’s instruction years before, I was able to correct my car when I began to slide and maneuvered through the intersection safely. The people behind me didn’t have the same success. There were two or three cars that slid uncontrollably and ended up colliding.
Sin is a lot like black ice. When it is left unchecked, it can lead to great trouble. It also demonstrates how sneaky the enemy is in disguising sin. Black ice is called black ice because it appears to be a normal road with a little moisture on it, but it is ice. It is difficult to discern if ice is on the road or not. Many times, the enemy will try to camouflage sin and if we aren’t aware and careful we will only discover it after we’ve already fallen subject to it. Only if we are prepared will we be able to avoid an accident.
Peter reminds us in 1 Peter 5:8 “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” Jesus tells us the enemy has three motives for us: to kill, steal and destroy [John 10:10]. Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 11:3 “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.”
Be careful out there. Satan is very good at what he does. He has had a lot of practice. In order to avoid his traps we have to be: familiar with the Word so we know how he operates; soaked in prayer so we gain direction from the Lord; and filled with the Spirit so we’re in tune with Him. Remember, He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world [1 John 4:4]. Victory is possible. It is even probable if you are always prepared and always alert.