“The fruit of their own Way”...the Wayfarer 2/17/14

“The fruit of their own Way”

  2/17/14

“Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filed with their own devices.

For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.”

(Proverbs 1:31&32)

Today, we return to the wisdom imparted to us by Solomon, and a bit of guidance as to just who it is that is worthy of being listened to and followed both while young, and indeed even as we age.

Peer pressure is one of the largest influences to affect the life of any human being.

This is created by a need to fit in, to find acceptance within the society in which we live.

Ostracism from that society or even portions thereof, is something to be avoided at all costs, particularly to the young and impressionable, but also to the aging seeking like minds as well.

Unfortunately, that acceptance comes with a price. It often demands compromise of things never intended to be compromised for any reason.

Solomon gave insight into the results of this compromising of values, morals, and beliefs, throughout many of the proverbs, and in the book of Ecclesiastes as well, but for today, I call attention to the words of the 1^st chapter of the book of Proverbs, and additionally what Christ had to say about the same subject matter.

“The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;

To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding:

 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment and equity;

To give subtlety to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

(Proverbs 1:1-4)

Solomon’s opening statement is clear and concise as to the intent of exactly what he hopes to accomplish with these writings. He is setting out to attempt to change the thought processes of his young in such a way that they may be properly guided in all decisions made, all choices made, and in the life they choose to live.

If only the parents of today, had the same forethought, and loving care to do the same, we would find a much different, much better world for them, and those who will follow them.

“A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.”

(Proverbs 1:5-9)

If Godly advice is given in the home, comprehension of the evils around us will be far less likely to allow us to be caught up within the snares that inevitably exist around us, providing temptation to ignore that “still small voice” that is placed within our soul at birth, and is nourished by that Godly advice.

It will be adhered to even when, and especially when, temptations seem impossible to resist, if heard and if encouraged in the home.

“My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:

Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:

We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil:

Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:

My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:

For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.”

(Proverbs 1:10-16)

My goodness gracious! How like the things we find on the streets of our cities that take place today these words sound!

How like the call of the politicians that harangue us to follow their lead to more riches, and prosperity as well!

How true that 16^th verse is, that tells us exactly where we are being led if we follow the calls of our “peers”!

Streets of our nation and many other nations as well, are overrun with filth and vermin who recognize the strength of numbers, and the ability to use that strength for their own “profit”.

Those street gangs are usually recognizable, because they do not bother to attempt to hide who they are or their purpose.

This is not so of those who cloak their agenda in the business suits, flowery speeches and promises made with no intent to honor them who set about the same pillaging and rape of the entire society through the auspices of deceit and trickery of all foolish enough to listen, who have not had that “still small voice” speaking to them, or who have ignored it when it did.

“Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.

And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.

So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain: which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words saying,

How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? And the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?”

(Proverbs 1:17-22)

Solomon could easily have been reading the front pages of our newspaper, or following the pundits of the news shows today as these words were spoken.

The gullible, and those idealistic dreamers who are deceived, refuse to see the end result of the things being offered them in place of what has been taught by the scripture since the time of its writing, and intended by God since the time of our very inception.

They are overwhelmed by the need to “go along to get along”, and blinded to the pure and concentrated evil that steals and kills to provide for the wants of that “peer group”, both on small and grand scale.

The cries of wisdom go unheard, because it is unpopular, and unpopularity and social incorrectness cannot be endured by those having no grounding in the truths of those scriptures.

“Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit into you, I will make known my words unto you.

Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;

But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:

I will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;

When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.

Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer, they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: 

For they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord:

They would none of my counsel: they despised my reproof.

Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

For turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.”

(Proverbs 1:23-33)

These words comprise both, advice and a warning, as well as giving promise to those who would bother to apply them and actually pay attention to exactly who and what they follow instead  of merely going along to get along and buying the lies fed them daily by those they follow, instead of following the One they should.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber, 

But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 

 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him for they know his voice, 

And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him, for they know not his voice.”

(John 10: 1-5)

Whose voice are you following? 

Whose advice do you seek out and follow?

Whose words and what voice are you teaching your children and grandchildren to follow, or are you abandoning them to the clamor of their “new and improved” philosophies touted by the state and their peer group?

We have been given the Truth, the Way and the Life, but it is up to us to follow Him, and lead others to follow Him instead of the popular and politically correct of this world.

Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

I close in prayer that you hearken to the one voice that is truly worthy of listening to, seek redemption through repentance as is demanded, then carefully and lovingly teach all you profess to care about, as did old Solomon in his time.

I remain, still your servant, but again far more importantly His, that same simple sinner saved by grace through faith, having had the great good fortune to have heard and heeded His call instead of allowing any peer group, or other association to drown it out. I remain also that bloodied soldier, still on the field of battle still screaming at the top of my voice for others to heed that same call before it is withdrawn forever.

2 Timothy 1:12 King James Version (KJV)

¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Amen and Amen.
the Wayfarer