Isaiah 59:1 Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. 3 For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.
This passage of scripture outlines for us one of the main reasons why Some Christians falter and fail, and it generally has to do with a departure from the path of righteousness and duty, which ultimately drives a wedge between ourselves and God. The devil knows that if God be for us, no one can stand against us, for we are made formidable agents of Christ once we stay connected to Him. And so the first and most important effort on satan's part is to try to separate us from the source of our strength, so that our vulnerabilities can be opened up to his assaults. He usually does this by tempting us to neglect the hour of prayer and praise, and when this is accomplished over a period of time, then our defense is departed, and we often know it not.
When the Children of Israel had begun their military campaign in the land of Canaan, they were given a stunning victory by God, who uprooted the very wealthy city of Jericho and gave it into the hands of Joshua and his people as a sample of what was to come. But their success suffered a severe interruption when Achan coveted some of the spoils of war that had been designated by God as being accursed. Let's read:
Joshua 6:17 "And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the Lord" ..... 18 And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.
This instruction was disregarded by Achan, and as a result, thirty-six men lost their lives, and the former confidence that the Hebrews had enjoyed, departed from them as it were a dream. A deliberate departure from a plain "Thus saith The Lord" is what caused their failure and the consequent demise of those who died, and the whole episode is full of instructions for us living in the twenty-first century. When as Christians we walk in harmony with the light that has been shed on our pathway, success will attend everything we do, for this is a solemn promise made by God Himself to the faithful. Let's read:
Psalms 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
However, whenever we turn from righteousness to iniquity, and are found to be living in blatant violation of God's commands and instructions, then the inevitable result is ruin and damage to our souls, and as in the case of Achan, negative results for others. It therefore behooves us to live soberly and righteously in this present age, so that God's name would not suffer reproach on account of any deviations from His revealed will on our part, and so that unnecessary failures can be avoided. It is one thing to be tempted, but it's another thing to invite temptation, and that's why the Christian must be watchful unto prayer, so that we do not give the enemy and edge over us, that he will certainly take advantage of.
We therefore end with a passage of scripture which calls on us to trust in God and His good purposes for us, by walking in the light of His glory and grace, for if we do, we shall never fall, nor be made the sport of circumstances. Let's read:
2nd Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ....... 10 "for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall"
May God add His blessing to the study and doing of His every word. God bless!