As we go about our day, it is the looking to the right or left that gets us into trouble. We know what we should do and we set our minds to do it. But somewhere along our path we notice something on our right that attracts us. We keep moving forward, but we also continue to glance to our right to look at the attractive thing. While looking to the right, we start to veer slightly to the right. As we continue to look right, we get further and further off the straight line and way off to the right. Eventually we give in and give our full attention to the attractive thing.
This is the way temptation works in our lives. We set a straight path to do good and right things. Then something grabs our attention. It could be the praise of others, a new shiny object we want to possess, attention from someone of the opposite sex, money, or a host of other things. Soon we are consumed by thoughts of our distraction and have to have it. Then we find we have drifted far off the course we had set for ourselves, and we don’t know how to get back on course.
I Corinthians 10:13 gives us hope when it says, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” The way to stay on the correct path is to always look straight ahead. There you will find Jesus offering you the strength and courage to stay on the path. Keep looking straight ahead to Jesus and the distractions on the right and left diminish in their attractiveness.
Reluctant Retiree 