Avoid the Consequences of Falling

Recently, there have been news accounts of several high-profile figures who have been seriously injured by falling while doing routine tasks around their home or workplace. In a moment of distraction or carelessness, debilitating and life-changing consequences can occur when one falls. On a personal note, while recently completing a simple little project at my home, I tripped over what I had been working on and took a tumble, resulting in a serious sprain of my left hand and wrist from which it took weeks to fully recover.

The National Council on Aging notes that falls are the leading cause of fatal and near fatal injuries for older adults. They report that the total cost of healthcare from non-fatal older adult falls is $80 billion per year.

The Center for Disease Control states that more than one in four people age 65 or older experience a fall each year, resulting in about three million visits to Emergency Rooms. Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injury.

Considering these less than cheerful facts and numbers, it is advisable that preventive measures be taken to avert the often-catastrophic results of falls. Certainly, physical exercise to improve strength and balance are helpful. Regular vision checks can recognize visual impairment that may cause falls. As simple as it may seem, we should get rid of things such as rugs or decorator items in walk-through areas that might cause one to trip or slip. Also, adding sturdy grab bars and having ample lighting where needed are crucial preventive measures. And, if a person needs a cane or walker to safely ambulate, they should set vanity aside and use it when moving about.

Quoting wise old Benjamin Franklin, truly “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Daily, we should ask God for His protection while understanding that He will not do for us what we can do for ourselves.

As is often the case, physical circumstances often illustrate important spiritual principles. The Bible uses “stumbling” or “falling” to illustrate spiritual consequences of failing to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness as a way of life (Matthew 6:33). In the book of Proverbs, King Solomon used physical circumstances to make a spiritual point when he wrote, “But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble…. Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil” (Proverbs 4:18–19, 25–27).

In the Parable of the Sower (Luke 8:11–15), Jesus described how those who heard His words reacted in different ways. Some heard the truth and were distracted by the devil and didn’t believe (v. 12). Some heard His words and received them with joy, but after a while, because of temptation, they fell away (v. 13).

Jesus also explained to His disciples that there will be persecution of believers. “Then many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another” (Matthew 24:10, New Revised Standard Version). The Apostle Peter also warned that there would be heresy and difficult times when he wrote, “You therefore, beloved, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked” (2 Peter 3:17).

The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the church of God in Corinth cautioned against being complacent or overly confident with this admonition: “So if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12).

As ominous as these warnings are, there are also positive measures that a believer can take to prevent a spiritual fall. In Psalm 119, a beautiful acrostic poem extolling the benefits of obeying the Ten Commandments, the Psalmist wrote in verse 165, “Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.”

Then toward the end of the New Testament, the Apostle Jude, defending the faith, gave this inspiring benediction:

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power both now and forever. Amen (Jude 24–25).

The pressing need to recognize physical hazards to avoid the consequences of a physical fall should be a priority for everyone. Yet, avoiding obstacles or impediments to our spiritual life is even more important, considering the eternal consequences of the choices we make.

The resources available free of charge at TomorrowsWorld.org, sponsored by the Living Church of God, are a valuable source to guide you in seeking God’s will for your life.