Stay Away From the Edge

There once was a rich lord, who was in need of a carriage driver. He interviewed several potential drivers asking them all the same question, “The road which leads to my castle has many dangerous areas. On one stretch of that road there is a steep mountain on one side and a sharp drop-off into a canyon on the other side. If you were to be selected to drive my carriage, just how close to that cliff do you think you could get the carriage without going over the edge?”

The first man said timidly, “Well, I am a good driver! I suppose could get your carriage to within 6 feet from the edge!”

The second man said more confidently, “I am an excellent driver! I could get your carriage at least 3 feet from the edge!”

The third man said boldly, “None surpass me in excellence! I am sure I could get the carriage right up to the edge of the road without going over!”
But for all their professed skill, it was the fourth man who was hired
The fourth man had said, “Sir, if you would give me the honor and privilege of driving your carriage, I would stay as far away from the edge of the cliff as possible.”

The fourth driver was hired by the rich lord.
(Spencer W. Kimball) We must not yield to even the smallest temptations.

Serious sin enters into our lives as we yield first to little temptations. Seldom does one enter into deeper transgression without first yielding to lesser ones, which open the door to the greater. Giving an example of one type of sin, someone said, “An honest man doesn’t suddenly become dishonest any more than a clean field suddenly becomes weedy.”

It is extremely difficult, if not impossible, for the devil to enter a door that is closed. He seems to have no keys for locked doors. But if a door is slightly ajar, he gets his toe in, and soon this is followed by his foot, then by his leg and his body and his head, and finally he is in all the way.

This situation is reminiscent of the fable of the camel and his owner who were traveling across the desert sand dunes when a wind storm came up. The traveler quickly set up his tent and moved in, closing the flaps to protect himself from the cutting, grinding sands of the raging storm. The camel was of course left outside, and as the violent wind hurled the sand against his body and into his eyes and nostrils he found it unbearable and finally begged for entrance into the tent.

“There is room only for myself,” said the traveler.

“But may I just get my nose in so I can breathe air not filled with sand?” asked the camel.

“Well, perhaps you could do that,” replied the traveler, and he opened the flap ever so little and the long nose of the camel entered. How comfortable the camel was now! But soon the camel became weary of the smarting sand on his eyes and ears … :

“The wind-driven sand is like a rasp on my head. Could I put just my head in?”

Again, the traveler rationalized that to acquiesce would do him no damage, for the camel’s head could occupy the space at the top of the tent which he himself was not using. So the camel put his head inside and the beast was satisfied again—but for a short while only.

“Just the front quarters,” he begged, and again the traveler relented and soon the camel’s front shoulders and legs were in the tent. Finally, by the same processes of pleading and of yielding, the camel’s torso, his hind quarters and all were in the tent. But now it was too crowded for the two, and the camel kicked the traveler out into the wind and storm.
Like the camel, Lucifer readily becomes the master when one succumbs to his initial blandishments. Soon then the conscience is stilled completely, the evil power has full sway, and the door to salvation is closed until a thorough repentance opens it again.

We plead with our people everywhere, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7.) …

There may be some who have a general feeling of uneasiness because of world conditions and lengthening shadows of evil, but the Lord said, “… if ye are prepared ye shall not fear” (D&C 38:30), and again, “Peace I leave with you. … Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27.)

As Latter-day Saints we must ever be vigilant. The way for each person and each family to guard against the slings and arrows of the Adversary and to prepare for the great day of the Lord is to hold fast to the iron rod, to exercise greater faith, to repent of our sins and shortcomings, and to be anxiously engaged in the work of His kingdom on earth, which is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Herein lies the only true happiness for all our Father’s children.

Do not live on the edge.
Avoid, not only evil, but even the appearance of evil. ( Don't listen to it, don't watch it, don't think about it; walk away! )
Follow the counsel of Nephi to act for yourselves and not be acted upon.
Seek first the kingdom of God and receive the great promise that all else will be added unto you.
Follow the counsel of Church leaders.

My strong advice is, if there is any question about your personal conduct, don’t do it. It is the responsibility of prophets to teach the word of God—not to spell out every jot and tittle of human behavior. Our moral agency requires us to know good from evil and choose the good. If we are trying to avoid not only evil, but the very appearance of evil, we will act for ourselves and not be acted upon. (James E Faust)

I find it particularly interesting that Satan was referred to as "that old serpent," which is very appropriate. Much like vipers that hide in a camouflaged environment, so does Satan blend into the world unnoticed. That old serpent has been at work since the earth's beginning.

When a snake attacks, it is often unseen, quick, and fatal. There are several types of snakes; the ones that interest me are the constrictors, and the venomous. Constrictors grab their prey, encircle themselves around the victim, and then slowly squeeze the breath of life out of their captive.

Vipers inject a harmful or lethal venom into their prey. The toxic venom attacks the nervous system or the circulatory system. Various symptoms emerge depending on the poison released. One could expect great pain, nausea, paralysis, convulsions, shock, permanent tissue damage, heart attack, or possibly death, if untreated. Many times the damage will be disabling and permanent. In other words, one may never fully recover from a viper's bite.

Spiritually speaking, Satan, that old serpent, with temptation, hides in camouflage. Like a chameleon he is waiting patiently to attack mortal man. If he chooses to be a constrictor, he will squeeze the light of life out of his victim. If he chooses to be a venomous viper, he will inject the poison of sin into his prey. Symptoms will then appear: spiritual paralysis that halts one's eternal progression; toxic venom that eats away and rots the spirit of man. Ultimately, the result (if untreated) is always the same, the victim experiences spiritual death.

Prepared with patience, Satan's cunning process is usually custom made, gradual, methodical, calculated, and precise. The initial sin is usually small and subtle, perhaps unnoticed. It starts as a thought, then a bad decision, then an action. The sin grows larger and more frequent. The victim's spiritual eyes begin to close.

The adversary is a great counterfeiter. He makes sin and bad things look good. He is an expert at setting snares. He waits, lures, and entices towards his trap. Distracted by the bait, man is oblivious to the danger. Once caught in serious sin (the snare), the predator's attack is quick and abrupt. He now has control of the man. Man's agency is softly and quietly taken away as the sin then perpetuates itself. Man is now in a cold, dark, and lonely spiritual prison. (Lyle Johnson)

Love, Deidi