As I continued to read through
Proverbs, these were the next verses that spoke to me concerning the times in
which we live.
Proverbs 4:14–16 & 19 “Enter not into the path of the wicked,
and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and
pass away. For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep
is taken away, unless they cause some to fall…. The way of the wicked is as
darkness: they know not at what they stumble.”
Solomon is
warning his son not to follow the example of wicked and evil people. Through Solomon, God is giving His children
today the same warning.
The first
thing that jumps out to me is that the father assumes that his son understands
the difference between good and evil, between doing good things and doing
wicked things. It is clear from the
passages discussed in previous posts that he had taught him that the fear of
God and knowledge and understanding of His word provided the principles from
which he could confidently make such discernment.
The father
tells his son to:
· Avoid
following the examples of wicked, evil people.
· Avoid even
getting near the places they go and the people with whom they associate.
· Turn from
following this path; in other words, go in a different direction from those
that are wicked and evil.
· Pass
away—As I looked at the broad meaning from the Hebrew for this phrase, the
context caused the ideas of being delivered from and escaping the consequences
of such action stood out to me.
It seems to
me that often we who claim Jesus as Lord try every type of reasoning and
justification to circumvent these warnings.
We don’t want to be labeled intolerant, so we avoid drawing lines of
black and white between good and evil as defined in scripture. We choose to live according to the
compromised standards that fall within this gray area of tolerance. We try to stay in step with the culture by
focusing on sharing God’s love without sharing His truth. Because we refuse to draw the lines in the
sand drawn by the word of God, the area of gray grows larger until finally we
have perverted and corrupted the foundational truths of God’s word.
Sometimes
it really does seem as though those who have chosen to defy God and follow the
rebellion of Satan have a commitment and stamina to accomplishing their agendas
that far exceed the efforts of the “church” to spread the gospel and the truth
of God’s word. Through their political
activism, they have managed to promote their godless agendas to the point that
that evil is considered good and good is considered evil. The prophet Isaiah warned against this very
thing.
Isaiah 5:20–23 “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil;
that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet,
and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and
prudent in their own sight! Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and
men of strength to mingle strong drink: Which justify the wicked for reward,
and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!”
I think the
last verse states a very important truth.
Those who are in rebellion against God and promoting agendas that are in
direct opposition to the stated will of God in His word are walking in
darkness. They have no spiritual
understanding. They are deceived by the
wisdom of men, by their own perceived wisdom.
They don’t understand that the wisdom of men has no firm foundation and
is rooted in the flesh and the things of the world—not the spirit as ministered by the grace of God through His Spirit.
1 Corinthians 2:12–14 “Now we have received, not the spirit of the
world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are
freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which
man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual
things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the
Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them,
because they are spiritually discerned.”
1 Corinthians 3:19; 2 Corinthians 1:12
“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He
taketh the wise in their own craftiness.For our rejoicing is this, the
testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with
fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the
world….”
True
believers are to serve as lights to lead the people of the world out of
darkness.
Matthew 5:14–16 “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set
on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a
bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the
house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
If we
continue to live in the “gray” and refuse to let the light of God’s word shine
through our lives, evil and wickedness will continue to thrive. Again, I am reminded of the words of Paul in
his letter to the Corinthians.
1 Corinthians 15:34 “Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some
have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.”
(to be continued…)
