Life is hard. Sin is easy.

Life is hard, sin is easy, and sin entices. If it didn't, we wouldn't feel tempted, and life would be easier if every person always made the good and right choice. So much suffering could be avoided if we never sinned. The only bright side is that through our failings, through our mistakes, God can work in us to help us mature and grow... if we let Him. He won't force us to accept his guidance. But even then, while we accept the grace and guidance of Christ's sacrifice and love for us, it won't erase the pain and natural consequences our sinful choices may have caused. Not until eternity at least. This may lead to a loss of relationships with those badly affected by our mistakes. It may lead to a loss of a marriage, a family, a friendship, a partnership, an education, a career, a goal, a home, of peace, happiness, freedom.

Sin entices, but always ends in pain. Consider David, who had affair and got a woman pregnant. To cover it up he ordered the death of her husband in battle and as a consequence, lost the child. Consider Moses who lost his temper and did things his way instead of following God's instruction and was not allowed to enter the promise land he spent so many years trying to get to.

The gift of salvation is easy. We just have to willingly receive it. But the road to walk after is treacherous, for as we grow in our knowledge and understanding of God and His word, temptations will still bombard us and make it difficult to resist.

When I was a teenager, I remember hearing this analogy... Consider there is a line dividing sin from righteousness. Sometimes we try walking on that line, trying our best not to cross it, but when you are walking that line, it is so easy to accidentally step over. A goid way to think of it is trying to walk on a balance beam - not an easy feat. But if you choose to walk several feet away from the line, one misstep won't send you over the line into sin.

So what does that look like in practical terms? It means avoiding that which tempts you. Don't watch shows or movies or visit web sites that might lead you to cross that line. Don't spend time with people who want to lure you past that line. Guard your thoughts. Don't allow yourself to fantasize about sin. Stay in God's word, pray, find good Christian fellowship, find someone you can be accountable to whom you can be vulnerably honest with.

It's not easy. Jesus even said the road would be hard. But He promised to always be there if we turn to Him.