The Duke of York...

The grand old Duke of York,
He had ten thousand men;
He marched them up the hill,
Then marched them down again.

And when you're up, you're up,
And when you're down, you're down;
And when you're only half-way up,
You're neither up nor down!

Ah, yes, the old nursery rhyme is undergirded with truth and common sense. David mourned at the death of Abner, (Saul's chief of staff,) saying, "How are the mighty fallen..!" and, "Died Abner as a fool dieth." Abner knew the rules. He knew he needed to stay in the city of refuge to be protected from the vengeance of David's chief of staff, Joab. In battle, Abner had killed Joab's brother, Asahel, (not willingly, but slew him just the same,) and that Joab was bent on revenge. Yet, he thought perhaps he could make peace with Joab and stepped outside of the walls of protection. And yes - Joab did what he'd set out to do.

How often do we read in the headlines of heroes, politicians, and other public figures who fall from grace? Their failures seem so foolish. How could they not know? we wonder. Disappointed and even disillusioned, we lose faith in even the good they may have done in the past. The wages of their misconduct is much more than monetary. The loss of trust on any and every level is costly indeed.

So what is it the bewitches humans into thinking they are somehow exempt from personal accountability? What makes them think they can escape public scrutiny - that somehow, their sins and misdeeds can be hidden? In this media-hungry society, there is always someone out beating the bushes in a hunt for a momentary lapse, or, better yet, a glaring error/sin. These take joy in exposing "feet of clay."

Public and political figures are not the only ones in such straits. Christians are the target of these "watchers" as well. The strange conundrum in all this is that while on one hand, they expect the child of God to fail, they hope deep down that he or she won't. Their mind and heart searches for something real enough to make it possible to actually overcome sin, to have the strength to live above it!

So how can we avoid this trap?

First, we must realize that the power we need is not found in human will or bootstrap determination. This strength is not human - it can only come from God through the power of the indwelling Holy Ghost (Acts 1:8).Trying to accomplish a victorious life through the power of the flesh is like an amputee with no arms or legs trying to climb Mount Everest. Like the Duke of York, human effort is a treadmill - expending lots of energy but getting nowhere.

Second, the strength we need to live an overcoming life comes over time and with experience. One does not suddenly become strong enough to resist sin - it's a daily thing. Isaiah said, "Line upon line, precept upon precept; here a little, there a little..." (Isaiah 28:10) Paul said, "I die daily." (I Corinthians 15:31)

Third, part of this "daily" thing is prayer and immersion in the Word of God. The more you know of His Word, the more you know of Him. If you want to avoid the traps of the enemy and the lure of the flesh, you need to know what pleases God and what He expects of you. His Word is key to this understanding. As you open your mind to His Word, and submit your heart in prayer, you'll find your strength is renewed day-by-day. Fasting fuels holy fire that purges us from fleshly lusts. (See I Timothy 6:11; II Timothy 2:15-22.) Although Paul was addressing young Timothy specifically - his admonition is vitally important to every gender and generation.
  
Psalm 119 is chock full of nuggets proclaiming the importance of knowing and embracing God's Word. In verse after verse, the Psalmist says to value God's Word, making it the foundation of our very lives. "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to Thy Word. With my whole heart have I sought Thee: O let me not wander from Thy commandments. Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee." (Psalm 119:9-11)

History tells us the Duke of York marched his army up the hill and set himself to the battle. Hopelessly outnumbered, (40,000 to his 10,000,) he lost the battle, marching his much depleted forces back down the hill in defeat. His position, his power, his importance,even his wealth meant nothing after that day

For those who battle in a war against sin and the flesh, going it on your own,in your own strength is going to end up in defeat. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" is the only way to victory!

  .