I had the challenge of removing a wall from a closet in our home today, in order to make room for our freezer. Before working, I read a text of Proverbs that festered in me all day, and spurred me to pray for my crime-ridden city.
Like a drug fiend, a wicked man can't sleep without his daily fix of evil! Sleep is stolen from the wicked unless they cause another to stumble! Can you imagine it? A guy or girl, around the corner from my house (and yours), is calculating the steps of wickedness he will inflict on someone else. Until the evil is perpetrated, he will not sleep. He can't. But does he realize his ways are "only evil always." Probably not. At least not beyond a convoluted rationale that eases his conscience in light of what he's about to do. "You see," he mutters, "I've been forced into this situation." "I'm a victim." "If you had it as bad has me, you'd do the same thing" is what he purports to ohers. "The kids have to eat." "The bills have to be paid." "The gang leader has to be appeased." "The heroine fit has to be satiated." "I've got to keep up appearances." "The guys at the office will understand." "Those folks will get along just fine without _______, but I won't." "This is OK."
Whew. At least you weren't his victim last night. Or were you? Perhaps it's worse than you think! Maybe you were the culprit? Any path, other the narrow, is wicked. You walk it, and you're wicked. "But I'd never do anything like that" is only a smoke screen. A false sense of security. Yes you will. You are a sinner. The inclinations of your heart are hellish and against God and others - unless...
What's our only hope for not letting our wicked heart (Jeremiah 17:9) lead us down the broad road of destruction? Only heeding the admonition at the beginning of the verse!
The former closet is coming along nicely.
Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not proceed in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not pass on. For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; and they are robbed of sleep unelss they make someone stumble. - Proverbs 4:14-16
Like a drug fiend, a wicked man can't sleep without his daily fix of evil! Sleep is stolen from the wicked unless they cause another to stumble! Can you imagine it? A guy or girl, around the corner from my house (and yours), is calculating the steps of wickedness he will inflict on someone else. Until the evil is perpetrated, he will not sleep. He can't. But does he realize his ways are "only evil always." Probably not. At least not beyond a convoluted rationale that eases his conscience in light of what he's about to do. "You see," he mutters, "I've been forced into this situation." "I'm a victim." "If you had it as bad has me, you'd do the same thing" is what he purports to ohers. "The kids have to eat." "The bills have to be paid." "The gang leader has to be appeased." "The heroine fit has to be satiated." "I've got to keep up appearances." "The guys at the office will understand." "Those folks will get along just fine without _______, but I won't." "This is OK."
Whew. At least you weren't his victim last night. Or were you? Perhaps it's worse than you think! Maybe you were the culprit? Any path, other the narrow, is wicked. You walk it, and you're wicked. "But I'd never do anything like that" is only a smoke screen. A false sense of security. Yes you will. You are a sinner. The inclinations of your heart are hellish and against God and others - unless...
What's our only hope for not letting our wicked heart (Jeremiah 17:9) lead us down the broad road of destruction? Only heeding the admonition at the beginning of the verse!
Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not proceed in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not pass on. For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; and they are robbed of sleep unelss they make someone stumble. - Proverbs 4:14-16Walking the path of evil begins with one step. Don't go there! Cling to Jesus! Don't trust past experiences. Trust Him now. His atoning death on the cross, His resurrection, His reigning and ruling over the universe (even the wicked who lose sleep) is real! Trust Him. Hold to Him. Walk with Him. Rest in Jesus (That's the best sleep) now, and you'll rest forevermore. Until then, snatch others from the path of destruction!
The former closet is coming along nicely.
1 comment:
Proverbs 16:6
"By lovingkindenss and truth iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one keeps away from evil.
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