Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many. I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.
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. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
Proverbs 4:10-19 (KJV)
Recently, a powerful tornado ripped through the countryside, ten to fifteen miles from my home. It destroyed houses, trees, and everything in its path. It buried cars under debris and it twisted trees out of the ground. The wreckage from the storm was horrendous. Many people were hurt and even a couple of people lost their lives!
The aftermath of a natural disaster, whether it is caused by a flood, earthquake, tsunami, hurricane, or tornado, is devastating. You are overwhelmed by the fact that so much damage can happen so quickly. Lives are lost, people are injured, and properties are destroyed. Moreover, sometimes it all takes place in just a few short minutes.
However, no matter how extensive the property damage is, the most catastrophic loss is the loss of lives. Houses can be rebuilt, vehicles can be replaced, and trees can be replanted. But a life cannot be replaced. Once someone is gone from this earth, he or she is gone. All that is left is the memories of his or her short earthly life.
If the individual had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, then that individual receives an eternal heavenly body…one that will never die. Thus, death for them is a stepping-stone to eternal glory.
But not everyone has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Some people refuse to accept God’s gift of His Son. Since these souls have never accepted Jesus Christ, then they have not been reborn through the Spirit of the Lord. Jesus said, “…Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). Heaven will not be their home…their souls are lost.
That is the most catastrophic lost that there can ever be…a soul dying without Jesus!
My purpose in writing these short lessons is to point you to the Lord and to encourage you in your journey with the Lord. Things of this world are quickly changing, but the wisdom and the knowledge of God are eternal—these will never fade. No man can enter into the presence of God except through Jesus. Jesus is the only Way. He is the Light, the Truth, and the Word. Except you come through Him, you will not see the Father.
Several lessons back, I stated that true wisdom comes through knowing Jesus Christ and through the anointing of the Holy Spirit. “…For our benefit God made Christ to be wisdom itself” (1 Corinthians 1:30, NLT). Wisdom that you gain from knowing and accepting Jesus Christ will lead you towards the right paths, helping you to make good choices. But this wisdom cannot be found in college textbooks; rather, this wisdom is only found through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and by the anointing of God’s Spirit. It is wisdom from God.
When you know Jesus Christ and follow His Spirit, you are led down the right paths of life. He protects you by shining His light of truth on obstacles that the enemy throws into your pathway. If you do make a mistake and trip, He will help pick you up. Thus, when you hold firmly to the Word and follow the Word’s instructions, never letting its wisdom slip away, you will have a long life…eternal life. It cannot get any longer than that.
True godly wisdom helps you recognize and avoid the evil deeds of lost souls. You are walking through a battleground of deceit and many people will come at you with great lying words. Their deceitful words may appeal to your pride, they may appeal to your lustful flesh, or they may even appeal to your hunger for power or money. No matter what kind of deceit that the wicked spew forth, do not be entangled in their snare. Avoid them…walk away…have nothing to do with their web of lies.
The wicked man thrives upon creating chaos and lies. He feeds upon the flesh of the innocent. Upon his bed at night, the wicked man plans more traps for his prey. He, the wicked man, is lost and he is stumbling around in the darkness of his soul. His hunger for destruction will not be satisfied until he has ensnared you in the darkness of hell.
Flee from the wicked man. Run straight into the welcoming arms of the Lord. There you will find love, peace, and eternal life. Run!
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 14:6 (KJV)
Three Key Concepts:
1. This earthly life can change in a single minute.
2. Jesus is the only Way to the Father.
3. Avoid becoming ensnared by the deeds of the wicked man.
