Hold up my going in Thu paths

“Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil man. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it and pass away.” Pr. 4:14, 15

The most magnificent gift, which God has put in us and at the same time the most risky one is free will. Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.” Jer. 21:8

God teaches us which is the best way of life. But He leaves us free to choose on our own. See, I have set before thee this day “life and good and death and evil… I call heaven and earth to record against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.” Deut. 30:15, 19

God plainly says that there is blessing in following His counsels and curse in following our way of thinking and understanding life. God has promised peace and security in the way of righteousness, because He is with us. But which is the way of righteousness? I ask this question, because in the world today, there are hundreds of views on this matter. For some money is righteousness, for other weapons, deceit, lies and so on. People today call evil-good and good- evil. Social virtues are changing with every generation. But God and His standard never. “Sinful man can find hope and righteousness in God only. No human being is righteous if he doesn’t have faith in God and he is not in vital connection with Him.” TM

It is interesting why God says that we should avoid the way of evil man, and we should not even pass by it. Aren’t we strong enough to resist evil? When we put ourselves on the way of the evil one, knowingly that with this we will not glorify God, God leaves us. Angels draw back and we are left alone to resist evil influences. Then we are lost.

“The angels had cautioned Eve to beware of separating herself from her husband while occupied in their daily labor in the garden; with him she would be in less danger from temptation than if she were alone. But absorbed in her pleasing task, she unconsciously wandered from his side. On perceiving that she was alone, she felt an apprehension of danger, but dismissed her fears, deciding that she had sufficient wisdom and strength to discern evil and to withstand it. Unmindful of the angels’ caution, she soon found herself gazing, with mingled curiosity and admiration, upon the forbidden tree. The fruit was very beautiful and she questioned with herself why God had withheld it from them. Now was the tempters opportunity. As if he were able to discern the working of her mind, he addressed her; ‘Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?’

Eve was surprised and startled, as she thus seemed to hear the echo of her thoughts. But the serpent continued, in a musical voice, with subtle praise of her surprising loveliness, and his words were not displeasing. Instead of fleeing from the spot, she lingered wonderingly to hear a serpent speak.” PP

“Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak.” Mt. 26:41
What was the reason for Samson’s fall? “And Samson went down to Timnath and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines. And he came up and told his father and his mother and said, ! have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughter’s of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife. And his father and his mother said unto him, is there never a woman among the daughter’s of the brethren or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me, for she pleaseth me well.” Judges 14:1-3

How many young people do the same mistake today? In their desire not to be alone they run unto marriage with someone who has the opposite ideals and purposes of life. Thinking that they are the one who should fincf the proper spouse, they run before God and in doing so they make the biggest mistake in their lives.

“Had Samson obeyed the divine commands as faithfully as his parents had done, his would have been a nobler and happier destiny.” PP

“Can a man take fire in his bosom and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals and his feet not be burned?” Pr. 6:27, 28.

“And it cause to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah… The Philistines took him and put out his eyes and brought him down to Gaza and bound him with fetters of brass, and he did grind in the prison house.” Judges 16:4, 21

Those who are heavily tested while doing their duty can be sure that God will keep them, but if a man willingly places himself in temptation, he will fall early or later. It was not by his desire that Joseph became a captive, a slave. He was unjustly treated by his brothers. Even that he was a young man he decided to remain faithful to God and he was blessed. Joseph was a man with principles in his life.

“(In Egypt) He was here exposed to temptations of no ordinary character. He was in the midst of idolatry. The worship of false gods was surrounded by all the pomp of royalty, supported by the wealth and culture of the most highly civilized nation then in existence. Yet Joseph preserved his simplicity and his fidelity to God. The sounds and sights of vice were all about him, but he was as one who saw and heard not. His thoughts were not permitted to linger upon forbidden subjects. The desire to gain the favor of the Egyptians could not cause him to conceal his principles. Had he attempted to do this he would have been overcome by temptation…” PP

“Only take heed to thyself and keep thy soul diligently…” Deut. 4:9.

Thinking of the example of Jesus’ life we can never see Him placing Himself in temptation. Jesus was brought by the spirit into the wilderness. “…and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.” LK4:1

God tells us today to be aware of where we place our steps. If we love Him and we would like to do His holy will, we will listen to Him. He knows better why He says, “Enter not into the path of the wicked…avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it and pass away.” Let’s not question His word, but simply believe that this is for our benefit.
AMEN

Ivo lonov