Don’t pitch your tent near sin. That was the theme of yesterday’s sermon by a young lady who attends Edmonton Temple. Erica spoke with confidence and conviction. No silly rabbit trails, no evident nervousness. Just clear, concise language delivered at a pace that was not too slow, not too fast. You would think she had been doing this for years. Nope – her first time.

Here’s the Scripture she used:

13 So Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev, with his wife and everything he had, and Lot went with him. 2 Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold.

3 From the Negev he went from place to place until he came to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had been earlier 4 and where he had first built an altar. There Abram called on the name of the Lord.

5 Now Lot, who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. 6 But the land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together. 7 And quarreling arose between Abram’s herders and Lot’s. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time.

8 So Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives. 9 Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.”

10 Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) 11 So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company: 12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. 13 Now the people of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord.

Here’s the line: while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom

Erica’s insight: you may think that pitching your tent near Sodom is going to be okay because you can deal with all the bad influence, but you’re kidding yourself. The danger is more than you imagine.

A great service – a greater truth.

We overemphasize our spiritual safety, we underestimate the cunning nature of our enemy. For He “prowls about seeking who he can devour” says the Scripture. This is why the Proverb has always rung true with me: “Guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life”.

So guard your heart today., No small compromises, no wandering to look for greener grass. Stay the course – walk the narrow path!

“in this world you will have trouble, but fear not, for I have overcome the world” – JESUS