07.24.07

The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way aright, But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness. - Proverbs 11:5.

Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety. - Proverbs 11:14.

He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like foliage. - Proverbs 11:28.

Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.- Proverbs 16:18.

For a righteous man may fall seven times And rise again, But the wicked shall fall by calamity. - Proverbs 24:16.

Lindsay Lohan appears to have moved out of the downward spiral and into a freefall. She was arrested early this morning in Santa Monica, California for driving under the influence of alcohol and possession of cocaine. Lohan was chasing another SUV at a high rate of speed just prior to her arrest. She also was driving with a suspended license.

Lindsay made the news in 2005 with three vehicle accidents and she had her fourth accident this year in May. She was arrested for driving under the influence as a result of the fourth accident and officers also found a “usable” amount of cocaine in that incident. She entered a rehab following the accident. Apparently, the rehab was of little help in view of this morning’s arrest.

Some may think that I am picking on Lohan; however, it is my hope that those who have admired her might see the danger of the course that Lindsay has taken. Also, maybe someone will someday give her a copy of this devotional and it might be of help to her.

The fact is that we all have messed up at some point in our lives and if we haven’t we will. Because Romans 3:23 is true and we have all sinned and fallen short of God’s standard of perfection. However, there is a difference between a misstep and a continual, habitual, intentional indifference to God’s standards and of the laws of a country that most of us try to abide by.

There are principles at work here, which are being demonstrated in Lohan’s life. The principles are laid out by the writer of Proverbs by statements like these:

“…the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.”

“…He who trusts in his riches will fall.”

“…Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

“Where there is no counsel, the people fall.”

Most of these statements have obvious applications to Lohan’s life. Lohan is wicked not in that she is any worse than anyone else is necessarily but in that; she is disregarding the Lord’s will for her life. She does appear to believe that because she is rich that the laws that apply to others do not apply to her. She also apparently is a prideful person believing herself to be above others (As seen by her actions). Sadly, she is not receiving wise counsel from those around her and possibly her own mother is giving her a poor example through her own reported substance abuse.

The good news is that Lohan does not have to continue her freefall. The good news for all who may be in a similar situation is that you do not have to continue your freefall either. No, you can change directions. You cannot do it by yourself but the Lord God has the power to help you to change. As the writer of Proverbs says, “For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again.” Place your life in the hands of God through belief in Jesus Christ (John 3:16) and He will raise you up. Trust God with your life and He will stop your freefall as He lifts you up to a place of service in His Kingdom.