BEWARE! SIN IS CROUCHING AT YOUR DOOR!
The Lord was very angry with Solomon, for his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. He had warned Solomon specifically about worshiping other gods, but Solomon did not listen to the Lord’s command. So now the Lord said to him, “Since you have not kept my covenant and have disobeyed my decrees, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your servants. But for the sake of your father, David, I will not do this while you are still alive. I will take the kingdom away from your son. And even so, I will not take away the entire kingdom; I will let him be king of one tribe, for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, my chosen city.” —I Kings 11:9-13
From the very first family of the earth the Lord told Cain, “Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you” (Genesis 4:7). Like a lion crouching and ready to attack its victim, so it is with sin. Sin controls a person!
I was reading of this fellow in South Africa who went to visit a friend who had his own private lion reserve. The visitor took his girl friend to see the lions which were located in this large acreage surrounded by very high fences. They walked along a grassy area next to the fence admiring the size and strength of the lions. The couple sat next to the fence and talked, the man’s feet pointed toward the fence and just inches from it. As they talked a large male came up to the fence and lay down. Moments later the lion’s paw flashed under a break in the fence and sunk his claws into the man’s foot. The lion started to drag him toward the fence, then under the fence as his girl friend was frantically screaming, trying to hold him from being pulled under the fence. He told her to run for help as the lion dragged him under the fence… It turned out that he was rescued, but had to undergo 5 hours of surgery to sew up his gashes the lion gave him.
Solomon, the wisest man ever and even though “the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice” and “He had warned Solomon specifically about worshiping other gods, but Solomon did not listen to the Lord’s command.” Solomon’s “heart had turned away from the Lord.” As you read in context the chapter of the verses above, Solomon’s turning away would affect generations to come. The nation would be divided because of him. The power of sin brought destruction. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRgCcTzCX-4
Beware! Sin is always crouching, wanting to overpower and control us. Do not think you are more powerful than it. Sin is powerful and destructive. Unconfessed sin will only bring more harm. Keep clean before God. Confess any known sin, cling to the Lord Jesus and walk in the power of the Holy Spirit. So be it!
Dear Father, please help me to flee temptation. Oh, when I sin against You, may I confess immediately and not allow sin to lead me astray. May I cling to Jesus and walk in the power of the Holy Spirit.