Walk of Life – Day 25 – November 2020 – Thoughts from the Book of Proverbs

A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring. Proverbs 25:26

This verse struck me hard. We read these proverbs daily but sometimes the truth in it is so precious. A righteous man falls. He is also human. He is not some angel from above. There are many righteous people mentioned in the Bible like Adam, Noah, Abraham, David, Moses, Jehoshaphat, and the list is endless, and none of them were without sin. Peter denied the Lord Jesus, Ananias and Sapphira sinned, and Paul mentions about many who fell away.

We see many pastors, evangelists, teachers of the Word who start very well. They follow the Lord wholeheartedly and we are blessed by their ministry. However, somewhere on the way many of them falter. If he repents and runs to the Lord, though he fall he shall not be cast down. We need to understand that no man is perfect. The righteous also fall and we also are prone to fall into sin if we are not careful. The Hebrew word translated fall means to stagger, wobble along, be moved, be overthrown, and the like. It probably means a righteous person, as a born again believer, one made righteous by the blood of Jesus who may compromise with this world and the things of this world.

See the imagery that Solomon uses – a troubled fountain and a corrupt spring. In those days, fountains and springs were very much sought after for the fresh water that quenches the thirst of the weary soul. However, in those days an enemy may poison the spring for various reasons. So a traveler longing to quench is thirst may find the well polluted. This is very relevant to our day and time. There is a saying that goes like this:

“We are the Bibles the world is reading; We are the creeds the world is needing; We are the sermons the world is heeding.”

Yes, we are the Gospel the world is reading and when our lives show compromise with this world, there is disappointment and disillusionment more so for someone who is a spiritual leader in the church. It is very much possible that one who had been known for honor, honesty, and integrity, and who had spent a lifetime building up a godly testimony, can ruin it in just one sinful act. It is not just important to begin well, it is very important to end well.

So we need to remember two truths. One we are all human and we may fall and falter. So it is important to keep close to the Lord and be careful the way we walk. Second never look at people. Many of us tend to follow certain people for the Word that they preach or the way they live. The problem with doing that is if they fall, we lose our faith and begin questioning God. That’s why when Paul speaks about the heroes of the faith, he says “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ” Hebrews 12:2.

Great examples are very good to follow and follow we must. However never get carried away by someone so much that if they falter you will also not be sure what is happening. Always keep your gaze on Christ. Learn from good examples. However seek to follow only the Lord Jesus.

Jesus never said “Follow Christians”, He said “Follow Me”