The Heart Blazes the Trail that the Feet Will Follow
Prov 6:18
(Sermon 5 of 7 on the 7 things that God hates)
We have previously looked at the sins of a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, and a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations. Tonight we look at feet that are swift in running to mischief.
I want you to notice tonight that in this passage the Lord covers the involvement of sin by our whole person. A proud look (Mind); A lying TONGUE; HANDS that shed innocent blood; a HEART that plans evil deeds; and FEET that run to trouble.
Tonight I want us to examine some paths to choose from.
I. A PATH THAT IS LIGHTED BY THE WORD. PSA 119:105
A) The word path here “is a well trodden area.” Matt 5:13
B) Our problem is that we think we have to leave the path to find adventure. We have a Larry Walters spiritual mentality. Larry Walters bought 45 helium filled weather balloons and tied them to a lawn chair. With parachute, sandwich, and B.B. gun he was intent on flying (a couple hundred feet he thought). Before he was ready, the rope broke or came loose from his jeep to which he was tied. He rocketed into the sky, loosing his glasses, and terrifying his friends. Before he knew it he was passing jets and entering L.A. International Airport airspace. He reached 16,000 feet altitude before shooting some of the balloons and landing in a man’s backyard.
C) It can only be lit by the Word if we have the Word with us.
1) ILL. How many times I have stumped my toe at night because I didn’t leave the light on.
2) It will be with us if we will be familiar with it by using it, studying it, and meditating on it.
3) To borrow a Motel 6 saying, God says “I’ll leave the light on for ya.” Do we use it?
4) The Word of God contains the instructions of life. I have often times heard people say that life or kids don’t come with instruction books. Yes they do, it is called the Bible.
II. A PATH THAT SEEMS RIGHT BUT IS WRONG. PROV 16:25
A) Have you ever turned down a road and thought “this doesn’t seem right” or maybe the other way around?
B) Isa 5:21 Teaches us the danger of being wise (cunning) and prudent (to have understanding) in our own sight.
C) It may seem right because that is the way everyone seems to be going. ILL. Going through a detour area and not seeing sign so follow traffic (The problem is if the guy in the front of the line is lost we are all in trouble.) “Wide is the gate that leads to destruction and MANY there be that go in thereat.”
III. A PATH THAT ONLY GOD KNOWS. JOB 28:7-13; 20-24
A) Here we find Job’s answer to his so called friends. They have over simplified Job’s situation in accusing him of having hidden sin that is the cause for his trouble. Job says you think you understand but I want you to know I am innocent and I want you to know that only God understands to this depth.
B) We choose the path that only God knows when we choose to trust completely in him no matter what the circumstances.
C) It is a path that He will give us light for; but only as much light as we need to see the things He wants us to see.
CONCL: What path will you choose? Where will your feet go? Will they run to mischief? Or will they follow the path of God that is lit by his inherent Word?
