Joab had defected to Adonijah, though he had not defected
to Absalom. —1 Kings 2:28
Joab withstood the greatest test of his life, remaining
absolutely loyal to David by not turning to follow after the fascinating and
ambitious Absalom. Yet toward the end of his life he turned to follow after the
weak and cowardly Adonijah. Always remain alert to the fact that where one
person has turned back is exactly where anyone may be tempted to turn back
(see 1 Corinthians 10:11-13). You may have just victoriously
gone through a great crisis, but now be alert about the things that may appear
to be the least likely to tempt you. Beware of thinking that the areas of your
life where you have experienced victory in the past are now the least likely to
cause you to stumble and fall.
We are apt to say, “It is not at all likely that having been through the greatest crisis of my life I would now turn back to the things of the world.” Do not try to predict where the temptation will come; it is the least likely thing that is the real danger. It is in the aftermath of a great spiritual event that the least likely things begin to have an effect.
They may not be forceful and dominant, but they are there. And if you are not careful to be forewarned, they will trip you. You have remained true to God under great and intense trials— now beware of the undercurrent. Do not be abnormally examining your inner self, looking forward with dread, but stay alert; keep your memory sharp before God.
Unguarded strength is actually a double weakness,
because that is where the least likely temptations will be effective in sapping
strength. The Bible characters stumbled over their strong points, never their
weak ones.
“…kept by the power of God…”— that is the only safety. (1
Peter 1:5).
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