Then tidings came to Joab: for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he turned not after Absalom. And Joab fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.
Joab stood the big test, he remained absolutely loyal and true to David and did not turn after the fascinating and ambitious Absalom, but yet to wards the end of his life he turned after the craven Adonijah. Always remain alert to the fact that where one man has gone back is exactly where any one may go back (see 1 Cor. 10:13). You have gone through the big crisis, now be alert over the least things; take into calculation the "retired sphere of the leasts."
"Kept by the power of God" – that is the only safety.
How often do we hear of "men of God" who are tempted and fall? How many of these men make the same mistakes over and over (or make the same mistakes others have made)? Why don't we learn from the mistakes of others? If someone has fell "over" some sin in the past, what makes us–me–any different?
In aviation, crashes are studied to the nth degree. They study the accidents to learn from them. That way, the knowlegde learned can be passed along to everyone else. They can take that information and learn from it. If Flight XYZ crashed because situation 1, situation 2, and action 5 caused it, current pilots will learn and not so action 5 when faced with similar situations. Why should we do nothing less in our Christian lives?
I heard a man speak about what Josh McDowel requires people to setup for him when he is in town. He has a male stay in the hotel room next to his. Any phone calls, any delivereis, anything that comes for Josh goes to the guy in the next room first. Think about this for a second. If he always does this, no one could stick an accusation on Josh of receiving inappropriate material on the road. He cannot do anything with the delivery person who comes because he never sees them.
Just like everyone else in this world, we are only human. We can fall. ""Kept by the power of God" – that is the only safety."