1 Corinthians 10:6-11 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry.” We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did — and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. We should not test the Lord, as some of them did — and were killed by snakes. And do not grumble, as some of them did — and were killed by the destroying angel. These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.
Often Christians live in the slipstream of others. The slipstream in the physical world is a place immediately behind a fast moving object. Reduced air pressure from the vehicle ahead, plus a forward suction pressure from behind, allows the second vehicle to be pulled along by the fast moving car or plane ahead of it. Many times Christians depend on their pastors as that first vehicle. They are pulled along spiritually depending on how the pastor lives or teaches. When the pastor is not there, or the right spiritual help is absent, or the right Christian book is not in their hands, many Christians flounder because they lose contact with their slipstream. We see this in the story of the golden calf in the Old Testament. Moses is on Mt. Sinai, away from the people; consequently, they revert to their old ways: When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.” (Exodus 32:1) Absent from their spiritual leader, their inspiration, the Israelites quickly go back to the lifestyle that is familiar to them. The new life of faith is lost because their leader is not present to encourage them, to help them keep the vision of the Promised Land in their heads. In today's focus, Paul warns the Christians not to turn back to their old habits and ways of living. He reminds them that their spiritual lives should be up-to-date, present with God through the unctions and inspirations of the Holy Spirit. They should remember that God brought judgment upon the Children of Israel when they wandered away from God in their daily lives, losing faith in God by murmuring against Moses, his chosen leader. Paul wants Christians to know that this God they serve is the I AM of the past, present, and future. He is long-suffering, but judgment is his prerogative, his choice when necessary.
We see God's holiness illustrated in the New Testament with how He dealt with Ananias and Sapphira and their deception.
But our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt. (Acts 7:39) Paul warns the Christians not to turn back to Egypt in their actions and minds but to follow Christ by faith, even as he follows Christ by faith. As he wrote to the church in Rome: For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” (Romans 1:17)
Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.
Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God.”
When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. (Acts 5:1-5)
Of course, God's judgment of Ananias and Sapphira made the people around this incident fearful. They realized God was present with them wherever they were, in all situations. As with the Israelites in the wilderness, with the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night journeying along with them, so it is with Christians who have the Holy Spirit present with them in all places. The people of God receive his blessings, but they also might face his judgments if they chose sin and deception over life and truth. God has promised the Holy Spirit to live in us. He has given us this wonderful gift so we might live his life in victory here on Earth. John wrote:
This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. (1 John 5:3-4)
We do not need to be in someone's slipstream, depending on another person's spirituality or understanding of God. The Holy Spirit came to teach us all things. We are his representatives, but we must listen to him or we will have to depend on someone else's understanding of God and the works of Jesus Christ. When Stephen was brought before the
Sanhedrin, he
told the Jews their forefather's would not listen to God because their hearts were hard. God sent them spiritual leaders to teach them obedience to God, but they would not pay attention to them; instead, they persecuted and even killed them. They turned back to their old lifestyle in Egypt. Stephen said even though they witnessed the miracles of God in the wilderness, they rejected God.
Stephen concludes,
Fellow breakfast companions, Paul writes this letter so the Corinthians might not set their hearts
on evil things as they (the Israelites) did. Setting yourself on evil things means wanting to go back to Egypt, wanting to re-establish your old life. You want to worship the idols of the past. Looking back is desiring to maintain your life in the world of sin, seeking the pleasures of the unredeemed world before you knew Christ. But God has changed you, cleansed your heart, and given you new affections. You love others and desire to do good to them through the indwelling Holy Spirit. You want others to prosper and find freedom in Christ. You want them to be saved and healed. You want the best for them in all situations by faith. Literally, you are a NEW CREATURE, designed to serve, to encourage, to help those in need. God has placed his Spirit in your heart to guide and to comfort you. You have SET YOUR HEART IN GOD'S LAND OF FREEDOM and not in the land of Egypt where you lived in bondage to sin. The land of Egypt is for self and sinful desires, the land of the Spirit is for freedom to serve others, looking out for their welfare. As we walk with the Lord, we can gauge where we are by our love for people. If we love little, we need to move closer to the Lord. If we love deeply, we still have room to move closer to the Lord, for He gave his life for all, the sinner and even his enemies. If you desire to commit totally to God, to hear and to obey his voice, start helping others, praying for others, loving others. In that mode, the self will fall away, and the Spirit of the Lord will take control. The voices of this world will not tempt you; all the glittering attractions of the former life will grow strangely dim in the light of God's love for others. He loves you with a divine love; He desires your companionship. God also seeks your integrity to carry the Good News to the world. The Spirit of God knows us; knows us better than we know ourselves. As we are honest with the Spirit, He will change us and help us shine for him. He is the Potter and we are the clay. As the psalmist wrote: The LORD will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands. (Psalm 138:8) We ask the Lord to help us to be what He desires for us, to make us better servants in his family. Bless you all as you journey on his pathway. 
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