I've stumbled before, plenty of times. More disturbingly, however, are the times I have fallen. There is a frightening lack of control in the fall… a point where one cannot redeem their position of safety. At this time, during the descent, the question is the yet unknown consequence of the fall.
A fall is never without damage - either to pride, or physical damage. Some falls lead to death. I knew a young man who fell 100 feet to his death while rock climbing just a few weeks after he finished High School. So heartbreaking and devastating for those who cared. Years later his sister "fell' to cancer when she was in her 50's. Their poor mother lost two of her three children to these events. We can be sorely affected by our own, or someone else's, fall. There is never not a residual effect from any variety of a fall. A fall is never without consequence - even to many. Consider 'the fall of man'. The world is fallen, and the result is pain, brokenness, and death.
Besides physically falling I have 'fallen from grace' - fallen out of favor - experiencing loss of social acceptance, understanding, and approval. I have fallen prey to a predator when vulnerable. There are times my countenance has fallen when feelings and pride have been hurt, and I've experienced disappointment. Many times my finances have fallen - taken a dive. I have fallen to defeat - been in a slump. I fall to sleep nightly, and usually not as long as I would like. I have fallen sick. I have fallen into sin.
I am no stranger to a fall. Once I nearly fell when tripping over an uneven area in a sidewalk. I would have fallen had my husband not reached out and caught me. There are times no one was around to catch me. In fact, every other time I have fallen I was either alone, or observed with no one able to assist me. Sometimes we can only watch the inevitable happen.
A fall can have - or most often has - much to do with the precarious nature of a path, whether chosen, or placed upon. And, a stumble of some sort nearly always precedes a fall. Most falls are accidental. Some falls are intentional. Most falls are likely preventable, if we could all just be perfect in our steps - consideration given to terrain, not be too prideful, careless, nor go too fast!
Here are definitions of both 'stumble', and 'fall'. The Reader will see that the smaller word 'fall' has a much broader scope of meaning!
stum·ble
trip or momentarily lose one's balance; almost fall.
fall
move downward, typically rapidly and freely without control, from a higher to a lower level.
Similar:
drop
drop down
plummet
descend
come down
go down
plunge
sink
dive
nosedive
tumble
pitch
cascade
gravitate
hang down
Similar:
slope down
slope
slant down
go down
incline downward
tilt downward
drop away
drop
descend
dip
sink
plunge
decline
*(of someone's eyes or glance) be directed downward.
*(of someone's face) show dismay or disappointment *by appearing to sag or droop.
(of a person) lose one's balance and collapse.
"he stumbled, tripped, and fell"
Similar:
topple over
tumble over
keel over
fall down
fall over
go head over heels
go end over end
fall headlong
go headlong
collapse
fall in a heap
take a spill
pitch forward
trip
trip over
stumble
stagger
slip
slide
*throw oneself down
typically in order to worship or implore someone.
"they fell on their knees, rendering thanks to God"
*(of a tree, building, or other structure) collapse to the ground.
Similar:
collapse
cave in
come down around one's ears
crash in
fall down
subside
sag
slump
sink inwards
give way
crumple
crumble
disintegrate
fall to pieces
decrease in number, amount, intensity, or quality.
Similar:
decrease
decline
diminish
fall off
drop off
go down
grow less
lessen
dwindle
plummet
plunge
slump
sink
depreciate
decrease in value
lose value
decline in price
cheapen
devalue
hit the floor
go through the floor
nosedive
take a nosedive
take a header
go into a tailspin
crash
go downhill
*(of a measuring instrument) show a lower reading.
be captured or defeated.
Similar:
surrender
yield
submit
give in
give up
give way
capitulate
succumb
be overthrown by
be taken by
be defeated by
be conquered by
be overcome by
be overwhelmed by
lose one's position to
pass into the hands of
fall victim to
die in battle
Similar:
die
be killed
be slain
be a casualty
be a fatality
be lost
lose one's life
perish
drop dead
meet one's end
meet one's death
bite the dust
croak
buy it
snuff it
peg out
bite the big one
*decease
(of a government or leader) *lose office or be overthrown.
*ARCHAIC
commit sin; yield to temptation
pass into a specified state, situation, or position.
Similar:
become
come/get to be
grow
get
turn
doze off
drop off
go to sleep
nod off
go off
drift off
crash
crash out
flake out
conk out
go out like a light
sack out
zone out
occur or take place
Similar:
occur
take place
happen
come about
come to pass
come
arrive
appear
arise
materialize
be classified or ordered in the way specified
noun
noun: fall; plural noun: falls; noun: Fall
1.
an act of falling or collapsing; a sudden uncontrollable descent.
Similar:
tumble
trip
spill
topple
stumble
slip
collapse
nosedive
header
cropper
*a controlled act of falling
*a state of hanging or drooping downward.
*a downward difference in height between parts of a surface.
Similar:
descent
declivity
slope
downward slope
downward slant
incline
downgrade
a sudden onset or arrival as if by dropping.
"the fall of darkness"
2.
a thing which falls or has fallen.
Similar:
waterfall
cascade
cataract
chute
torrent
rapids
white water
force
3. a decrease in size, number, rate, or level; a decline.
Similar:
decline
falloff
drop
dropping off
decrease
cut
lessening
lowering
dip
diminishing
dwindling
reduction
plummet
plunge
slump
deterioration
downswing
nosedive
crash
letup
4. a defeat or downfall.
Similar:
downfall
ruin
ruination
collapse
failure
decline
deterioration
degeneration
destruction
overthrow
demise
surrender
surrendering
capitulation
yielding
giving in
submission
acquiescence
succumbing
resignation
laying down of arms
defeat
*a person's moral descent, typically through succumbing to temptation.
*the lapse of humankind into a state of sin, ascribed in traditional Jewish and Christian theology to the disobedience of Adam and Eve as described in Genesis.
noun: Fall of Man; noun: the Fall
Similar:
sin
sinning
The Holy Bible speaks, frequently, of the sword falling on this person, or that. This is an outward assault. The Bible speaks of buildings, or societies, falling - collapse. Both of these are external consequences - most often judgements against - ongoing and unrepentant sinful practices. It is a way to dispense with the corrupted old, and bring in the new. It can often be a 'sign', too, of one thing or another.
I briefly mentioned the affect the terrain can have regarding our capacity to fall. Ups and downs, twists and turns, these can all affect our walk. Lately I have been praying that my mountains be lowered, and my valleys be raised, and my path be broadened so that I may not stumble in my walk with God.
In Isaiah 40:3-5 the scriptures say: "A voice is calling, "Clear the way for the LORD in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God. "Let every valley be lifted up, And every mountain and hill be made low; And let the rough ground become a plain, And the rugged terrain a broad valley; Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, And all flesh will see it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."
This scripture is reiterated in the New Testament in Luke 3:3-6. It tells us that John the Baptist "came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins; as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, "The VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, 'MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT. 'Every RAVINE WILL BE FILLED, AND EVERY MOUNTAIN AND HILL WILL BE BROUGHT LOW; THE CROOKED WILL BECOME STRAIGHT, AND THE ROUGH ROADS SMOOTH; And ALL FLESH WILL see THE SALVATION OF GOD.'"
Regarding these scriptures we might ask, "How do we raise the valleys, lower the mountains, smooth the rough spots, to make way for all to see the salvation of the Lord God?" John the Baptist preached 'a baptism for the repentance of sins'.
A baptism for the repentance of sin would be an immersion in REPENTANCE. To repent one must acknowledge their fallen state, and turn from it. We turn away from one thing, and turn to another. We turn from the sinful man, and turn to God.
Why 'immersion'? Because our repentance - our turning - is continual. The battle between the Spirit and the flesh is continual in this life. We must put the flesh to death, and live by the Spirit! We must be 'born again', dying to this self driven life and coming alive in Christ Jesus - a new man. We must immerse ourself in repentance as a practice - a lifestyle. Then - only then - will we see the salvation of the Lord.
What does repentance do? Repentance levels the mountains, and raises the valleys, making straight the way for the Lord. Repentance causes us to see the salvation of the Lord!
Contrarily, Jeremiah 50:32 tells us, "The arrogant one will stumble and fall with no one to raise him up…"; and 1 Corinthians 10:12 tells us, "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall."
Pride leads to no good consequence. I believe that pride precludes a fall. In pride we do not 'see the salvation of the Lord'.
Jude 24-25 says, "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen."
God is able, and willing, to keep His OBEDIENT Child from falling! So 1 Peter 2:8 tells us… "they stumble because they are disobedient to the word".
WE ALL STUMBLE. James 2:10 tells us that, "...whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. James 3:2 tells us, "...we all stumble in many ways…". Yes, we all stumble! Yet, as we live in repentance - continually looking to Jesus Christ - He is able to KEEP US FROM FALLING.
So, let us make way to see the salvation of the Lord through repentance. Let us heed these most serious and concerning warnings found here in Hebrews 3:12,
"Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God." And here in Hebrews 4:1, "Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience." Because, Hebrews 10:31 warns us, "It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God."
God has revealed His heart and intentions for good for us in His Son, Christ Jesus. He is not willing that ANY should perish! If we perish it is because we have hated the Lord - hated the Truth - and despised His gift.
I will leave us with these verses for our meditation and consideration regarding stumbling and falling. May we learn and grow from them. Be blessed. Amen.
2 Peter 1:4-11 says, "For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you WILL NEVER STUMBLE; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you."
John 11:9-10:
Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him."
Mark 9:43:
If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire…
Matthew 18:6:
…but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
Hosea 14:1,9:
Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, For you have stumbled because of your iniquity. Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; Whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the LORD are right, And the righteous will walk in them, But transgressors will stumble in them.
Jeremiah 18:15:
'For My people have forgotten Me, They burn incense to worthless gods And they have stumbled from their ways, From the ancient paths, To walk in bypaths, Not on a highway…"
Proverbs 3:13-26:
How blessed is the man who finds wisdom And the man who gains understanding. For her profit is better than the profit of silver And her gain better than fine gold. She is more precious than jewels; And nothing you desire compares with her. Long life is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways And all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who hold her fast. The LORD by wisdom founded the earth, By understanding He established the heavens. By His knowledge the deeps were broken up And the skies drip with dew. My son, let them not vanish from your sight; Keep sound wisdom and discretion, So they will be life to your soul And adornment to your neck. Then you will walk in your way securely And your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden fear Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes; For the LORD will be your confidence And will keep your foot from being caught.
Psalm 119:165:
Those who love Your law have great peace, And nothing causes them to stumble.
Revelation 2:5:
"Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place-unless you repent."
2 Peter 3:17-18:
You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
James 5:12:
But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment.
Hebrews 6:6:
…and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.
1 Timothy 4:1:
But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons…
1 Timothy 6:9:
But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.
Galatians 5:4:
You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
Romans 3:23:
…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…
Acts 1:16-20
Brethren, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was counted among us and received his share in this ministry. (Now this man acquired a field with the price of his wickedness, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his intestines gushed out. And it became known to all who were living in Jerusalem; so that in their own language that field was called Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) For it is written in the book of Psalms, 'Let HIS HOMESTEAD BE MADE DESOLATE, AND LET NO ONE DWELL IN IT'; and, 'Let ANOTHER MAN TAKE HIS OFFICE.'
Luke 20:17-18:
But Jesus looked at them and said, "What then is this that is written: 'The STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME the CHIEF CORNER stone'? Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust."
Luke 10:18:
And He said to them, "I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning.
Luke 2:34:
And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed…"
Luke 6:39:
And He also spoke a parable to them: "A blind man cannot guide a blind man, can he? Will they not both fall into a pit?"
Matthew 24:10:
At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another.
Matthew 26:31-33:
Then Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, 'I WILL STRIKE DOWN THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP OF THE FLOCK SHALL BE scattered.' But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee." But Peter said to Him, "Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away."
Matthew 15:14 NASBS
Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit."
Jeremiah 46:16:
"They have repeatedly stumbled; Indeed, they have fallen one against another. Then they said, 'Get up! And let us go back To our own people and our native land Away from the sword of the oppressor.'"
Ezekiel 32:10:
"I will make many peoples appalled at you, and their kings will be horribly afraid of you when I brandish My sword before them; and they will tremble every moment, every man for his own life, on the day of your fall."
Micah 7:8:
Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy. Though I fall I will rise; Though I dwell in darkness, the LORD is a light for me.
Zechariah 11:6:
"For I will no longer have pity on the inhabitants of the land," declares the LORD; "but behold, I will cause the men to fall, each into another's power and into the power of his king; and they will strike the land, and I will not deliver them from their power."
Matthew 13:21:
…yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away.
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