|
 
When I was the kid, our Little League baseball team celebrated the
season’s end by going to a local lake for a day of fun, which
included grilling burgers, swimming, boating and water-skiing. It
was my first actual trip to a lake for recreation purposes and my
first attempt at water skiing. I spent virtually all day in the sun
with no shirt. Several adults mentioned that I was looking a little
pink and should maybe put lotion on or wear my shirt. But the cool
water and breeze had me convinced that I would be OK and that the
adults were just trying to spoil my fun. That was the worst sunburn
of my life! I was out of action for several days, not to mention the
pain.
Years later, on a Mission trip to Mexico, we had a day off at the
beach. I warned several young adults who were obviously getting too
much exposure to the sun. Most didn’t listen and spent 10 very
painful hours in the van the next day before we got home. Likewise,
we are in for a lot of pain when we get lulled into believing that
exposure to sin and compromises in our lives will not burn
us. Protect yourself. When Satan tried to burn Jesus through
temptation Jesus commanded Satan to get behind Him. In Luke 4:8
these words are recorded, “And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get
thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the
Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”
In Acts 1:8 Jesus said, “But you will receive power when the Holy
Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and
in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Jesus gives
you the power to decide what will be in your life. Use the power
wisely!
Common Sense Application
1. The best way to overcome temptation is to
avoid it in the first place. Prayer will be your starting place.
2. Write down those people, places and things
that help and encourage you in your relationship with God. Take
steps to put more of them in your schedule and lifestyle.
3. Oh, by the way, the most wide-spread cancer
in America is skin cancer. So, it is best to avoid the sun as much
as possible. When you will be in the sun with skin exposed for any
length of time be sure to use sunscreen with an SPF rating of at
least 15. You will be glad you did! Whatever you do, don’t put
butter on sunburn; that’s an ‘old wives’ tale’ with no foundation in
fact!
| 
