Manfred, Freiherr von Richthofen was a famous German First World War fighter pilot. He was better known as the Red Baron because he flew a distinctive red Fokker aircraft.
He shot down more combat planes than anyone else on either side in the first World War. His known kill tally was 80.
On April 21, 1918, he began chasing a Canadian plane that was trying to escape the battle over the Mor-lan-court Ridge near the river Somme. As the Red Baron pursued his prey, he strayed behind Allied lines. He dived too low into the enemy lines.
He also missed a Canadian pilot (Arthur) “Roy” Brown coming up on his tail to help his comrade. We will never know whether it was a shot from the ground – or a shot from Brown that killed Richthofen. But what we do know is that the “Red Baron” came to his end because he made the mistake of pursuing that Allied plane too long, too far, and too low into enemy territory.
Many committed Christians have been shot down because they have followed temptation for too long, too far, and too low into enemy territory. As with Richthofen, they are then caught unaware and have to deal with the consequences.
Understand that as Christians we will sin. We are not perfect. Thank the Lord that we have 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” But we are not to “stay” in a sin. We are not to have a habitual sin. We are not to have a sin or sins that we cannot control or sins that we become trapped in.
Romans 6:12: “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.” Sin has no right to reign and we are not to obey it. Because the Holy Spirit dwells in me, sin should not control me. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, I control it.
Proverbs 7:22: “He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter…” Romans 6:14: “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” Simply put, we are not to follow sin like we are hypnotized, puppets or robots who have no control over ourselves or like an ox to the slaughter. We are not to let sin get that kind of power over us. Sin is not our master.
God’s grace places the believer in Christ and the Holy Spirit in the believer. Therefore, a Christian does not have to sin. Because the Holy Spirit dwells in me, I can resist temptation and do what is right.
It’s up to me! Am I going to be controlled by sin or is sin going to be controlled by me?
Please help me, Lord, to say NO to sin and control the situation so that sin won’t control me. Don’t be like the Red Baron. Beware! Guard your heart and your mind with the word of God because sin will take you farther than you want to go and keep you longer than you want to stay.
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