Why do we laugh when we see someone fall down? Comedians go down all time and we always chuckle.

Recently, I went for a walk up on the hill from our house. Snow covered the road but unfortunately ice had covered it before the snow got to it. I was walking happily along, listening to someone on my MP3 when suddenly—slip, slide—my arms flailed wildly trying to balance things, then– ka-boom! I found myself in a painful heap on the ground.

I had two feelings. “Wow! That hurt.” The other one was, “Hope no one saw me.”

Once when we were in Luxembourg, I rode my bicycle to the post office right before lunch. The sidewalk in front of the Post Office was a good bit higher than the street but instead of stopping to get off, I decided to rely on my acrobatic skills and hop the bicycle up on the sidewalk in one smooth motion.

A lady was coming my direction but I had plenty of time so I aimed the bicycle and pulled up on the handle bars. The lady would probably be impressed by my skill. Only, I didn’t time it right and I crashed into the side of the sidewalk. I flew over the top of the handlebars, landing heavily on the concrete.

Ouch! That hurt. I wondered if something might be broken.

Then I remembered the woman coming my direction and the thought flashed through my mind that after having witnessed such a terrible crash, she might be calling the ambulance. As I glanced painfully up at her, she was laughing!

Laughing!

I was dying and she was smiling! So much for the milk of human kindness. I felt kind of silly after that. Falls may be funny to see, but they’re not funny to have.

I went walking again a few days after my most recent falls and I assure you that I stepped carefully in the ice and snow. I slipped a couple of times but I kept my feet because my guard was up.

How about your spiritual life? Is your guard up? I know you’re doing well but are you watching where you put your foot?

“These are all warning markers—danger!—in our history books, written down so that we don’t repeat their mistakes. Our positions in the story are parallel—they at the beginning, we at the end—and we are just as capable of messing it up as they were. Don’t be so naive and self-confident. You’re not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it’s useless. Cultivate God-confidence.

“No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it.” 1 Corinthians 10:11-13 (The Message)

This is a good time to take stock of your life. Are there areas of temptation or weakness where you need to put up a twenty-foot stop sign? Do it! ” … if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (NIV)

You and I are just as capable of screwing up as anyone. Don’t be stupid and say, “It’s no problem. I know my limits. I can handle it. It’s not really a problem. I know it’s not good, but I’m okay. My tongue is a bit undisciplined but it’s not that bad, etc. etc. blah, blah, blah!”

STOP! Take stock of your life. Watch your step. Ask God for His power because without vigilance we can find ourselves in a painful heap on the ground. The worst is, we don’t fall without hurting those around us. Sometimes we pull them down with us.

And, that’s not funny, not funny at all.

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Hmmm…

Everything you need you must first conquer in the spiritual dimension, par faith. If you do that you’ll be astonished at what you can do.” Pastor Cesar Castellanos