Yesterday, I came across a video of a bear that seemed to hang around a woman's house. This was a wild animal, but the bear returned to this woman's home frequently. In the video, she brought her cubs to the house, nursed them there and even learned to shut the door of the lady's home. What a remarkable interaction. Then, my husband told me about a gentleman who lived in a remote area in Alaska who had the same type of interaction with a bear who seemed quite friendly. The relationship went on for a good deal of time and then, no one heard from this gentleman any longer. When a welfare check took place, they found this man mauled to death. A tragic ending for what seemed like a unique friendship with a creature in the wild.
While the death of this man who befriended a bear is sad, it serves as a reminder to us to be careful whom we entertain. The Bible reminds us not to put ourselves in a situation where we may be overcome by temptation. I Peter 5:8 tells us: "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." When we invite temptation of any sort into our lives, we risk falling into sin.
For example, if we have a drinking problem, we should not put ourselves into a situation where people are drinking all around us such as a bar. Maybe we have a problem with gossip. Sounds like a harmless issue but the Bible is clear about such a habit. Proverbs 11:13: "Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered." So, if we know what God says about gossip, then we need to stay away from those who practice this lest we also fall into that sin. This is one reason why it is so very important to know God's Word. How can we stay out of danger if we don't follow God's guide book for life?
In addition, the people that we spend time with are also an important consideration. Spending time with those who do not live to please God can often influence decisions we make or actions we take. The opposite is also true. When we take time to be in church worship with likeminded believers or in a home group Bible study, we are putting ourselves in the company of other believers. The Bible says that "iron sharpens iron" (Proverbs 27:17) meaning that we tend to make each other sharper as we interact together in God's Word. This is why we are told in Hebrews 10:25: "...not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." We need to be in Christian fellowship.
This world, like our bear friends, seems to be friendly and tame, but we would be wrong to trust this system just as we would be wrong not to be wary of bears. Both can turn on you in a second. This is why we must put our trust in God because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, avoid any appearance of evil, stay away from temptation, and do stay in God's Word. Inviting a bear into your home can lead to serious consequences as it did for the man in the story above. Instead, we must put on the full armor of God in these days and stay in fellowship with others who can build us up rather than tear us down in our Christian walk. Selah!
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