2. Introduction Preventive maintenance (PM) is very important for the safety & protection of our physical lives. Car- we should follow the PM schedule in the owner’s manual (oil change, brakes, batteries, belts, hoses, tires, steering, etc.). Drive safely. Health- eat fruits & vegetables, exercise regularly, don’t smoke or drink alcohol which can help prevent future health problems (diebetes, heart disease, some cancers, cirrhosis, asthma, insomnia, depression, etc.) School- listen & obey your teacher, do your own homework, study hard, and be diligent.

3. Introduction Since PM is important so that we might enjoy a healthy, happy, and successful life, how much more so do we need to have PM for the soul? Just as our car, health, or knowledge doesn’t deteriorate overnight, our soul doesn’t either. A person doesn’t become a murderer, adulterer, gambler, thief, liar, or hypocrite overnight. Since 'An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure‘ we should have a PM plan for the soul which will help us to avoid the common pitfalls that lead others to torment and help us follow the path leading to glory.

4. Fleeing Temptation Since sin is the destroyer of our souls, we should desire to flee from every temptation to sin. But Steve, that’s impossible because the Bible says that we all have sinned (Romans 3:23) Since we know that, a temptation to sin would be to blame God for allowing it rather than realize that we each have made the choice to sin. (James 1:13-16) Jesus fled from every temptation of the devil using the power of God’s word and we can to. (Matthew 4:3-10; Psalms 119:9-11)

5. Fleeing Temptation Instead of blaming God for our sin, we should humble ourselves in obedience to the gospel in order to be cleansed from sin (Mark 16:16). Remember that God provides a way of escape from every temptation but we must resist it being firm in our faith (1 Cor. 10:13; Js. 4:7-8) Think of fleeing from temptation as preventive maintenance for the soul and thus heed the warnings of the Lord in Scripture! The younger we choose to live godly, the more likely it is that we will pursue righteousness instead of wickedness (Eccl. 12:1; 1 Pt. 4:1ff).

6. Guard Your Heart with Diligence As oil is the key to the life of the engine, the heart is the key to the life of the soul. Jesus warned, “…Out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders” (Matt. 15:19). To prevent those things from happening we are told, “Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life” (Pr. 4:23). What we treasure in our heart is what we are going to follow (Matthew 6:21).

7. Guard Your Heart with Diligence If you love God with all our heart, soul, and mind you will be careful to keep our minds focused on prayer and purity so that we might have the fruit of the Spirit. (Matt. 22:37; Phil. 4:6-8; Gal. 5:22-23) If you love to sin, you will be focused on the works of the flesh and encouraging others to sin also (Gal. 5:19-21; Ro. 1:18-32). If you are trying to serve both God and sinful things, you are double-minded, lukewarm, and the Lord will vomit you out of His mouth. (James 1:6-8; 4:8; Rev. 3:16-18).

8. Do Not Lust in Your Heart Jesus warned that those who lust in their heart have already sinned without performing the act (Matthew 5:27-29) Even though David was the man after God’s own heart, he did not guard his heart leading him to commit many other sins and endure much suffering the rest of his life (2 Sam. 11-12). Even though immodesty is a problem everywhere, godly women must not dress in such a way as to be the object of man’s desire and be a stumbling block to them. (1 Timothy 2:9; Matthew 18:5-6)

9. Do Not Let Greed enter Your Heart Jesus warned “to be on guard against every form of greed” (Luke 12:15). Balaam loved the wages of unrighteousness having trained his heart in greed to whereby he sold his soul to destroy God’s people and lost his own life fighting for that enemy. (Numbers 31:8, 16; 2 Peter 2:14-15). There are too many that are training their heart to be greedy rather than holy. You cannot serve God and wealth (Matt. 6:24). Be rich in good works not in goods (1 Tim. 6:18)!

10. Conclusion If you refuse to perform PM on your vehicle, you may not only destroy your car but end up in an accident at some point. If you refuse to perform PM on your soul by guarding your heart against lust and greed, you will suffer the eternal consequences. (Ephesians 5:3-6) But by God’s grace, Christ died for you, and you can obey the gospel today and have all your sins washed away (Heb. 2:9; Acts 22:16). Don’t live in sin any longer but let Him have his way with your life (Eph. 5:7ff)!