Down but Up
“So Abram went up from Egypt…”
The only difference between an unbeliever and a Christian is Christ in the heart of the believer. As Christians, we fall into temptation and sin just like the ungodly do, but as Bob Carlyle sings:
“We fall down, we get up and the saint is just a sinner that falls down and gets up.”
Jesus is our strength, he lifts us up when we are down, he forgives us when we confess our sins and gives us the wisdom to choose better the next time we are tempted. The popular Christian group Audio Adrenaline testifies about this in their song “Get down.” You might not enjoy the rhythm, but the message is clear: God lifts us up.
“…to the place where he had made an altar…”
Abram ascended from Egypt and returned to Canaan, to the altar, to God. In the same manner we must return to the Lord. All of us have fallen down one time or another, but we need to be as resilient as a boxing champion. A true champ may fall in the ring, but he will find a way to get up, return to the fight and win.
“Abram settled in the land of Canaan…”
Abram’s example is worthy of emulation. His sin was great, but so was his recovery. How did he do it? He went up from Egypt (the place of temptation and sin), returned to Canaan (the place where God had called him to be in), and settled once again in the Promised Land (the place where God was waiting for him).
God’s will for our lives is to be, not near, around, or even close to him, but in Him. Let us return to our first love; let us come back to our Lord.
