What Path are you on?

I was reading in Proverbs today Chapter 7. What an amazing story. There is a wise man looking out his window. He sees a young man walking down the street, and can immediately see he lacked judgement. Mostly because when you are young, you do not have the life experience to have good judgement.

He immediately sees which direction the young man is headed. He is walking in the direction of of her corner, the house that she lives in. It also is toward evening, the dark of night is near. As the young man continues on the woman the wise man spoke of appears. She is dressed in a way that draws attention to her, and shows off her body. She speaks her mind and is very aggressive. She grabs the young man and kisses him. She persuades him with smooth talk and traps him. She convinces him this is a good idea, that no one will find out. Her husband is gone for a long time. Whats wrong with a little fun and pleasure.

Then in verse 22 it says “All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose, till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him his life.

Here are my thoughts on this story:

• It all started with this young man walking on the wrong path, in the wrong direction. It is easy to be drawn into temptation. It often starts very innocent, but you keep walking closer and closer to it. Then all of a sudden you fall.
• We need to make sure we are walking in the right direction and on the right path. Don’t entertain temptations thinking you have enough will power to stop at any time. When your hanging out on the corner where she lives, all at once you will follow her or whatever temptation is enticing you.
• We need to guard our minds. Don’t fill your mind with images, words or anything that stimulates wrong desires.
• Don’t dance around the edges, if we play with fire we will get burned.
• We need to keep away from settings and friends that tempt us to sin.
• When you are close to following the temptation, don’t think of just that moment, focus on the future and what the consequences of this action might be.
• We need to put safeguards in place to keep us from straying off on the wrong path. Seeking wise counsel, being accountable to someone, making sure we are dealing with our hurts and hangups in a healthy way.
• If you have already fallen, stop and get onto the path God wants you on and start walking in the right direction. This happens one good decision at a time.