Paul speaks to the Corinthians about the hardships and difficulties that the Christian will face in living for Christ. He does this with a backdrop of the realization that no matter the opposition, the Christian life of faith is necessary and pleasing to God. Christian living appears foolish to the unsaved, but by contrast for those in Christ it is our new natural state of being. In first Corinthians chapter 10, Paul addresses that there are those who in the past had equal opportunities to demonstrate their faithfulness to the Lord for they were exposed to the same truth from God as the faithful, but most failed. Paul is addressing genuineness. He draws lines differentiating the saved from the unsaved. In chapter six of the Corinthian letter, he listed the worst of sins and those practicing them. He stated of them, “Those who practice these things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” But then he wrote, “Such were some of you” (1 Cor. 6:11). The “some of you” were no longer living as before. The text in chapter 10 of first Corinthians then addresses the theme of how Christians are to deal with ongoing temptations and challenges. Christians are in a world held in Satan’s power (1 John 5:19) that functions in every conceivable way contrary to all who are in Christ. Knowing this, how is it that we can survive the world, the flesh, and the devil?

We know that no true Christian can ultimately fall away from God. There are many Scriptures that tell us that no one or nothing can snatch us from our Lord (John 10:28). Even when we do fail, God has given us our restoration remedy (1 John 1:9). The issue then is whether we will persevere in the faith proving our relationship to the Lord, or ultimately fail when the going becomes difficult. If we fail ultimately, we were never truly the Lord’s. On the other hand, there are those times when we will be near the precipice of doubt, and, yet continue our walk of faith. Paul addresses the hardship of this journey by warning us of our attitudes in approaching life in this fallen world. He makes a remarkable statement by comparing the spiritual life to competing in an athletic event. He says, “I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified” (1 Cor. 9:27). Then he reminds us of how so many in Israel who experienced great privileges from God failed over and over when tested. So, he says, “Therefore, let him who thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12). This is a warning to anyone possessing a careless attitude about sin.

The emphasis is upon those in Christ with ears to hear. The self-righteous person, or person confident not in God, but in himself will think he is above the Scripture. He doesn’t have to be watchful, prayerful, sober, or obedient as the Scripture says. He is not concerned to cry out “Oh God help me!”  He is not leaning on God, nor even seeking His Word as a resource. He may think he can live the Christian life without keeping his mind in the right place or having a love commitment to Christ. Instead, this is a person who thinks he can dabble in sin, and ultimately have God at the same time. We know what Peter warns, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Pet. 5:8).

It is foolish beyond measure for any person to think they can combat the sinful world in their own strength. Paul says to, “Take heed.” The Greek phrase, “Take heed,” literally means look out, because if you don’t you will fall.  It expresses it as inevitable. Failure or success is one of the methods God uses to show us who is of God and who is not. We know this from what Paul says next in his letter to Corinth. “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man, and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape, so that you will be able to endure it” (1 Cor. 10:13). What a wonderful promise this is for those classified as the “you.” He is addressing His true children. This coincides with the overcoming that Christ promises for His own. We, in Christ, have the ability not from ourselves but from God, to be overcomers. It is our privilege and our responsibility. God has a purpose in this as part of our sanctification, or growth, and witness of living out our faith before others and before Him. Our dependence is upon Him, and never upon ourselves. How can we stand in the times of our severe testing? We turn to God for His help. We soberly and prayerfully do as Paul. While drawing strength from our Lord, we discipline ourselves from all that would lead us astray. There are casualties all around us.  May we heed Scripture, and turn to God in faith as our source of strength now and always. Father, we ask You to help us to take the warnings of Scripture to heart and live in these difficult times as instructed, and to do so to the praise of Your glory.