The First Step Down is Tricky

Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Arthur Schlesinger Jr. made the observation “that kings, generals, and presidents tend to make their biggest mistakes immediately following their greatest victories”.

I think he’s right but it isn’t just limited to kings and generals. Think of all the Biblical examples. Noah right after he gets off the Ark gets himself embarrassing fall down drunk. David finally secures his kingdom and puts it into jeopardy with his sin with Bathsheba. Elijah defeats the prophets of Baal on Mt Carmel then finds himself despondent in a cave ready to give up. Peter confesses Jesus as Christ, then proceeded to tell Jesus he can’t go to the cross.

Over and over, we think the moment at the top is secure until we take that first step down and tumble.

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.

1^st Corinthians 10:12

Maybe it’s simply because we start to lose focus when everything is going our way. We are looking for the traps on the way up but forget they are still there when we are at the pinnacle. Let’s never become complacent wherever we find ourselves on the journey.

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Ecclesiastes 12:10

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