Temptation (post 4) - Watch your steps!

Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn away from it and pass on. For they do not sleep unless they have done evil; and their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall. For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence. 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. Proverbs 4:14-19

Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right of the left; remove your foot from evil. Proverbs 4:26,27

A man who wanders from the way of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead.

Proverbs 21:16

We can start with the conclusion first; if you leave the path you will rest with the dead. The picture couldn’t be made clearer. The way of life and light is a precipitous path. Like those mountain paths in Switzerland or the Italian dolomites, the potential descent is long and deadly.

The author of Proverbs is charging us to first consider our environment. Do I see live around me as a struggle between light and darkness? Do I recognize the eternal antithesis between the city of God and the city of man? Or, do I regularly remember that as the seed of the man, I must be on the guard for serpents. We are not to assume that we live in a neutral environment. When you are climbing on the knife edge of a ridge above a 1000 foot deep chasm on either side, you make your way very carefully even if the path is adequate. Life is the same way.

We do this by pondering our path. Am I walking in the established trail? Have I checked the guidebooks? Do I have a headlamp should it turn suddenly dark in a storm or starless night? Am I traveling with a trusted and experienced companion? These are all precautions that we would take if we were mountain climbing. We would all be prepared to take care if we considered our position precarious.

Finally, we are called to be aware of blind guides. Jesus is quick to remind his disciples of this danger (Matthew 15:14). Why? The deception is that they are qualified as guides! Do what they say but don’t do what they do (Matthew 23:2-3) Jesus warns. We will encounter plenty of smart, wealthy and suave characters along our path of life. Beware! Check their eyesight. What kind of eye chart should I use to tell the difference? If they don’t acknowledge Christ, they are by necessity living in darkness (John 1:5, 8:12 and 12:46). Perhaps they are reported to be believers – just go into any Christian bookstore or check online for a myriad of supposedly qualified guides! No, these too must show their qualifications (1 Timothy 3:1-13, Titus 1:5-9, 1 Peter 5:1-4)