Where To Walk

Proverbs 4:14-18, “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. For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence. But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.”
It always seems to happen when we are traveling to keep an appointment. Traffic slows down and sometimes even comes to a stop. We have all been there and as we slowly progress to the cause of the slow down we see it is an accident on the other side of the road. Our slow down is due to others wanting to see what happened. Rubber-necking it is called. It is at times like this that we all wish we had been able to get a traffic report so we could avoid this area.
Solomon writing to his son is giving us instructions as he is encouraging his son to avoid situations that could have potential to entangle him in sin. His advice is to avoid the scene of wickedness altogether.
As we go through life it will be impossible to not avoid sinful environments. Be it at home at work or on vacation. Solomon’s wise counsel is to not be guilty of rubber-necking the sin around you. Avoid it, don’t go near it, and get away from it as quickly as you can.
When we walk through the supermarket past the magazine rack there we are faced with provocative poses on every cover it is hard not to look. In the office there are attractive people whose dress is more revealing than it should be. Solomon’s counsel is to pass by or avoid them altogether, turn from the temptation as quickly as possible and go your way. The same would apply to entertainment or unhealthy atmospheres that draw us into a sinful state of mind.
Will others think us strange for so conscientiously avoiding sinful distractions and potential shipwrecks to our faith? Yes, especially if they are rushing headlong toward it themselves. It is interesting that Solomon is not interested in what others think---he is concerned about you and me. Satan will use many tools to entrap us and cause us to lose our faith, to cause our testimony to be tarnished. What may seem to be innocent and of non effect could be devastating to someone who is watching. There is a term Christians hear a lot about and that is---hypocrite. Pretending to be something that you are not. Satan would love nothing better than to have you seen doing something that is unsavory and sinful. Looking at something you shouldn’t, talking improperly going where your testimony has no place.
Solomon encourages, if you are caught up in any sin or temptation, turn from it immediately and change your path. There is no shame in repentance, but there is nothing but shame in the way of sin. Romans 6:23,” For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”