Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." 1 Peter 5:08
Imagine you are out for a casual ride without a care in the world and you come around a bend to discover a skunk right in the middle of the road! What do you do?
Do you A: plow on ahead and run over that stinky varmint (after all he shouldn't be there)?
What about Plan B: go off the road around him through the weeds?
Finally there is Plan C: quickly turn around and go the opposite direction?
Mark, Gracie and I were recently faced with this dilemma when we were out riding the golf cart one evening. We often go out in the golf cart around our property to enjoy the cool evening air and discuss the day's events. We rarely see any wildlife except an occasional cat or an eagle flying high above on the air currents. It is so wonderful to ride around without a care in the world.
Back to our story. We were face-to-face with one of the largest skunks I ever saw with a major decision to make. If we plowed on ahead over the skunk it was almost certain we would have a distinct, unpleasant odor that wouldn't go away. No, that wasn't a good plan.
It was possible to go around the skunk through the weeds but there was no way to tell if the skunk had a friend or entire family lurking around hidden from sight. There was no way I wanted to meet the skunk's family. Plan B was no longer an option for us.
As you might already guess, we quickly decided on Plan C with me screaming at the top of my lungs and Gracie wanting to chase the skunk. We backed up quickly and turned around continuing our ride by avoiding the area where we saw the skunk. Fortunately we didn't see it again.
I got to thinking how the skunk was like sin in our lives. We go about our lives unconcerned when we are suddenly face-to-face with sin. If we pursue sin, we are left with the stench of it that lingers with us long after. Even if the sin wasn't witnessed by another it is evident through our actions or attitudes that last much longer than the initial encounter. It is important to completely from your sin to keep you away from unwanted consequences.
There are also situations with sin in which we think we can come close without any adverse consequences. This is always a dangerous decision as like the verse at the beginning, the devil is waiting for someone to devour. It is always best to keep away from not only sin, but the appearance of wrong doing. It's never worth taking a chance of anything that will cause you or someone else to fall into the clutches of sin.
In James 4:7 we read: "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." I don't know if the skunk ran away, nor do I care. All I know is that I wanted to get as far away from it as I could and never see it again. Wherever I go on the roadway of life, I pray I will continue to seek God and his word so I will keep away from the stink of sin.
Debra Whittington is a longtime resident of Tucumcari. Contact her at:
