Just what are our “spiritual gates”? The reference to “spiritual gates” in this sense refers to our eyes, our ears, our feet, our minds etc., anything that potentially could lead us to sin.
Why should they be protected? The answer is simple: Because they could lead us to sin!
Let’s say for example that you are on a specific diet. Due to heart problems, you need to lose weight and eat heart-healthy. French fries (chips) and pastries are definitely not on your diet. We all know that as long as you keep yourself away from these foods, it will not be a temptation to eat them. But we also all know the temptation that can come about by just driving by a McDonalds! And those commercials on TV just make your mouth water. And sometimes you don’t even have to be around these forbidden foods. You may have a random thought, perhaps triggered by some smell, of hamburgers and French fries, and just the thought makes your mouth water! If you don’t do something, you’ll get in your car and head for the nearest hamburger joint!
In this example, what the eyes see or the nose smells, or even what you imagine in your head, can lead you to doing what you don’t want to do!
It is the same with other things in life. Our brother James describes temptation in this way: “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” (James 1:14-15 NKJV)
What does this mean? It means that there are triggers for any sin we can think of, and these are generally triggered through our senses, through our spiritual gates!
Thus, the way to avoid being drawn into sin is by protecting these “spiritual gates”! This mini-series looks at practical ways to protect ourselves as well as our families.
Please enjoy below, for: “Bugs Under the Door”, by Elizabeth Price
BUGS UNDER THE DOOR
Every morning I have to sweep up little bugs that have crept inside. They somehow manage to squeeze under two doors and land on the tiles.
I have taken every precaution to keep them out, destroying their habitat and finally using a fairly lethal spray but still they slip through. Most of them land dead though, because of the spray.
You cannot see how they get in and they never make the journey during the day. They come in at night, in the darkness, when the household is asleep. Yet sometimes I have the odd feeling that they are meant to be there to teach me a lesson.
You see, we cannot keep the bugs out of our lives because they sneak in through the chinks that sin has made. We can’t alter that. But we can minimise the risks. We can destroy their nests around our homes, nests like unwholesome books and videos, and we can put up a fairly lethal spray of Biblical guidelines. We can also shut the doors on thoughts that are bitter or angry or ugly. Still some bugs will creep through in the darkness but with all the safeguards in place, we can sweep them away when we wake up.
You are kept safe from invading bugs because, just as Uriah remained on duty to keep King David safe, you have One “who who watches over you and will not slumber.” (Psalm 121:3)
Even more surely, “our Lord died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.” (1st Thessalonians 5:10).
So take courage; the bugs have already been defeated. They are already dead but they just don’t know it yet.
Elizabeth Price
Please join us next Saturday for PROTECTING YOUR SPIRITUAL GATES, Part 2: Be Careful Little Eyes What you See.
(To access the entire “Protecting Your Spiritual Gates” mini-series, please click here.)