Summary: The text says there is a right path to follow and a wrong path to follow. Follow the right path and it will lead to joy, peace, and eternal life and fellowship with God – follow the wrong path and it leads to destruction.

DETOUR – THER’S A MUDDY ROAD AHEAD"

PROV. 14:12-15

There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof the ways of death. Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth heaviness. The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man from himself. The simple believeth every word: but the prudent looketh well to his going. Proverbs 14:12-16

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There’s a road of life that looks harmless enough to follow but look again—it leads straight to destruction. Sure, those people appear to be having a good time, but all that laughter will end in heartbreak. A mean person gets paid back in meanness, a gracious person in grace. The gullible believe anything they’re told; the prudent person watches very carefully the road they choose to follow.

THIS PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE IS ABOUT LOOKING VERY CAREFULLY AT THE ROAD WE CHOOSE TO TRAVEL THROUGH LIFE.

Someone has said, "A Proverb is a short statement that is drawn from long experiences of life."

Hebrew PROVERBS does not get it poetic value from rhyme but from SYLLOGISM (

Explain: Def. A formal argument consisting of a major premise and a minor premise leading to a conclusion.

Jamie was confused about this.

The text is saying: There is a right path to follow and a wrong path to follow. Follow the right path and it will lead to joy, peace, and eternal life and fellowship with God – follow the wrong path and it leads to destruction.

Prov 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Follow the wrong path and it will take you to ruin and destruction.

It also teaches us that we have no ability of ourselves to make the right decision. Left up to our own best thinking and reasoning we will always choose the wrong path.

It ends with the Admonition – "Watch Where You Are Going" 16 The wise watch their steps and avoid evil; fools are headstrong and reckless.

A. Everyone should spend at lease one Christmas at Disney World. We thought it would be a good idea. Mass of humanity. Stephanie and I was standing in line and a couple of young people about run over a fellow and his comment was "LOOK WHERE YOU’RE GOING. I thought that was good advice for life.

T/S WHAT DOES GOD’S WORD HAVE TO SAY ABOUT WATCHING WERE WE GO.

If there has ever been a time when people need to be looking in the right direction it is today.

THE BIBLE HAS SOME WONDERFUL INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE PATHS WE CHOOSE TO WALK.

I. THE WORD TEACHES US TO LOOK UP.

A. We need to look up for our salvation:

Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. -- Isa 45:22

B. We need to look up to our creator and maker:

Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged. -- Isa 51:1

C. A. We need to look up in prayer.

My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. -- Psa 5:3

D. We need to be looking up to our High Priest and mediator.

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. -- Heb 12:2

E. We need to look up for our full redemption.

When you see all the things come to pass – look up for your redemption draweth nigh.

II. God’s Word Teaches us to LOOK BACK:

[Remember] therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works . . . . . . -- Revelation 2:5

Now, I know that in a sense the Bible teaches us not to look back.

And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.-- Luke 9:62

However, we are not to look back in sense that we want to go back or live in the past. but the wise man will learn much from the past that will help him to do that which is right in the present and future.

Everyday you are given another chance to start again.

A. We can look back at what we have learn from His Word to guide us:

But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may [remember] that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you. John 16:4

B. We can look back at our condition before Jesus saved us:

Wherefore remember, that ye in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. -- Ephesians 2:11-13

C. We can look back at where we fell and get up and start again:

[Remember] therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works . . . . . . -- Revelation 2:5

III. God’s Word Teaches us to LOOK INWARD:

A. Look inside that you lose not your rewards:

Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. -- 2 John 1:8

B. Look inside for the power of the Holy Spirit and God’s everlasting grace to avoid winding up with a bitter spirit.

Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; -- Heb 12:15

C. Look inside to the hidden Word of God to learn patience and obedience to God.

Psa 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. 12 Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.

IV. God’s Word teaches us to LOOK DOWN.

And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall [humble] himself shall be exalted. -- Matthew 23:12

But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the [humble]. -- James 4:6

[Humble] yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. -- James 4:10

[Humble] yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: -- 1 Peter 5:6

V. God’s Word teaches us to LOOK OUTWARD:

Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. -- John 4:35

VI.God’s Word Teaches us to LOOK FORWARD:

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; -- Titus 2:13

18I have often told you, and now tell you with tears in my eyes, that many live as the enemies of the cross of Christ. 19In the end they will be destroyed. Their own emotions are their god, and they take pride in the shameful things they do. Their minds are set on worldly things. 20We, however, are citizens of heaven. We look forward to the Lord Jesus Christ coming from heaven as our Savior. 21Through his power to bring everything under his authority, he will change our humble bodies and make them like his glorified body. -- Phil 3:18-21

So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look For him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. -- Heb 9:28

CONCLUSION:

Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. -- 2 Pet 3:14