Secret Attack
January 6, 2003
During the 1982 conflict in the Falkland Islands
between England and Argentina, the Royal Navy's 3,500 ton
destroyer HMA Sheffield was sunk by a single missile fired from
an Argentine fighter jet. It caused some people to wonder if
modern surface warships were obsolete, sitting ducks for
sophisticated missiles.
But a later discovery revealed that the
Sheffield's defenses did pick up the incoming missile. The
ship's computer correctly identified it as a French-made Exocet.
But the computer was programmed to ignore the Exocets as
"friendly." The computer didn't recognize that the missile had
been fired from an enemy plane. The ship was sunk by a missile
that it could have evaded.
A similar thing happens to men who are devoted
followers of Christ. We allow enemy missiles to penetrate their
defense systems because they don't identify them for what they
are.
It would be nice if, once you devoted yourself to
God, all danger disappeared. It doesn't work that way.
Dedication to God and a determination to stop sinful behavior
are critical steps. But there is more to experiencing freedom
from sin's trap. Finding freedom requires reprogramming your
mind. It means an ability to identify and avoid dangerous
situations.
How do you do that? Begin by thinking about those
events or situations that consistently tempt you to do wrong.
Maybe it's something someone says that triggers your anger. Or,
it could be an image that tempts you sexually. Regardless of the
temptation, identify it. Once you've done that make up your mind
you'll jettison it from your life. Get rid of it. We may not be
able to control our inclinations, but we can limit the number of
temptations we'll face. We can get rid of the triggers that stir
up our sinful appetites. If there are no opportunities to sin
when we're inclined to do so it increases the likelihood we'll
live holy lives.
In 1 Corinthians 6:15 Paul wrote, "Flee from
sexual immorality." While Paul is addressing the sin of sexual
immorality, his advice applies to any compulsive sin. We are to
run away from sin. We're to be proactive in dealing with it.
As the New Year begins, let's make a renewed
commitment to be aggressive in turning away from sin and
pursuing God. None of us wants to be hit by a missile we could
have easily avoided.
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