A Short Analogy for the Christian Journey

A simple analogy occurred to me recently for the Christian walk.  As believers, I think we sometimes fail to fathom the real depths of harm arising from our daily temptations.  Their very ordinary nature lulls us to a spiritual complacency.  Our free will, our choice is a frightening thing indeed when we fail to recognize the foolishness and harm arising from our own choices.  There is, after all, no such thing as a victimless sin.


The analogy that came to mind was of people trying to stay afloat in an ocean storm.  Their arms and legs are moving, but they are close to going under.  Someone (representing temptation) offers them something, and their eyes light up.  Their hands reach eagerly up and out of the water towards what's offered--temptation becoming sin--and the weight of the sin draws them even lower in the water, but their eyes continually to hungrily eye new temptations to sink their souls down to the depths of despair.


No temptation has seized you except which is common to man.  And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so you can stand up under it.  


1 Corinthians 10:13