Caution on standing firm

For a long time, I’ve been desiring to influence many people around me in a big way and to be in a position where I can be proud to everyone around me. But after listening to last week’s sermon, I realized I may have taken my actions in a wrong way.

I think it’s awesome that we are trying to be an exemplary as a disciple of God in this world, but at the same time, we should be also careful when we are at that state.

So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!
1 Corinthians 10:12

The word, fall, comes from a Greek word, Pipto.
Pipto appears in many verses in the Bible, but here it means to fall, to descend from a higher place to a lower. (in Korean, 넘어지다)

In other verses with prefix added, it slightly changes the meaning, but it is still conveying the negative meaning:

and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. — Hebrews 6:6

Fallen away in this verse comes from a Greek word, Parapipto, which means to slip aside, more specifically: to fall away (from the true faith): from worship of Jehovah. (In Korean, 타락하다)

You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! — Acts 7:51

resist in this verse comes from a Greek word, Antipipto, which means to be adverse, oppose, strive against. (In Korean, 거스르다)

However, there is another side to this word, which is totally opposite from what we’ve been seeing in other verses above and it’s actually something that we should act in.

the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: — Revelation 4:10

fall down in this verse comes from the same Greek word, Pipto, which it also has a meaning of to fall down, to descend from an erect to a prostrate position.

The phrase that really hit me personally from 1 Corinthians 10:12 was “standing firm.” This phrase made me realize when I stand firm before God, I am the one who is standing firm and not God. I’m probably doing that so many times in this world…

This is such a great reminder for me and I hope it also finds you same.
Is God standing firm or am I?

A wonderful praise song to listen to:
We Fall Down by Chris Tomlin