Don’t Swim With Sharks

I really enjoy watching shows on television about animals and all of creation. God’s creation is truly amazing. One of my favorite things to watch and learn about is sharks. Terrifying, yes. But really cool. Sharks are fierce. Powerful. Incredible to watch.

One thing I laugh at, though, when I watch documentaries on sharks is how many of the people on those shows are always trying to figure out some “scientific” reason as to why humans are being attacked by sharks when humans are swimming in the ocean. They think there is some mysterious explanation as to why it happens. I find that hilarious. The “scientific” explanation is really rather simple: sharks will attack and eat living things in their domain. When a human being, a living creature with meat on it’s bones and blood coursing through its veins, enters the water with the sharks it is bound to happen! It’s what sharks do. One absolute way to keep from getting bit by a shark is to stay out of the water! If you do choose to enter the water, then understand that the danger is real and you bring the risk on yourself.

Sin works very much the same way. Sin is like the sharks. Temptation is like the water. If we swim in the waters of temptation, then we are bound to be attacked by sin. But if we stay out of the water, then there’s a greater chance that we won’t be attacked.

There are people around us that can be a bad influence on us. There are people that can put temptation in our way. There are places around us where we can find ourselves being tempted by sin. There are many things in this world that are capable of opening the door to sin. It is up to us to stay away from such people, places, and things. If we continue to hang around the people who are having a negative influence on us then we are bound to sin. If we continue to go to the places that breed temptation then we are bound to sin. If we keep using things that are avenues to sin then we are bound to sin.  But if we will learn to keep ourselves away from such things, we will be guarding ourselves from a lot of temptation and sin.

Paul in his writings often told Christians to flee, run away from anything that would lead to sin (1 Corinthians 6:18, 1 Corinthians 10:14, 1 Timothy 6:11, 2 Timothy 2:22, 1 John 5:21). Flee sexual immorality. Run away from idolatry. Paul said to abhor what is evil and cling to what is good (Romans 12:9). He also said to abstain from every form of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22). Peter tells us that Satan is like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). Stay out of his way! Run away from him. Don’t even hang around where he would be.

If you don’t get in the water with sharks, you won’t get attacked. If you are careful about the people you hang around, the places you spend your time, and what you spend your time doing, then you will keep yourself from being attacked by sin. Don’t take chances. Don’t take the risk. Stay as far away from sin as possible.

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