In Other Words--Slippery Slopes

Caution: Road Slippery When Wet

The moment I saw this week's quote, encouraging us to look at the caution signs in the Bible, I thought of Casting Crown's song "Slow Fade."

The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you're thinking
Be careful if you think you stand
You just might be sinking

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
Daddies never crumble in a day
Families never crumble in a day

We live in a world of slippery slopes. We must be on our guard. One small slip may lead to another to another until we are to a place that we never dreamed we could be--far away from the God of justice and love. But because He is a God of Love, He has provided us plenty of warnings in Scripture to help us not make that slide away from Him.

The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know what makes them stumble. Proverbs 4:18-19

CAUTION: Life is Slippery!

"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell. " Matthew 5:21-22

Anger leads to name callling leads to ostracizing behavior or to violent behavior leads to murder. CAUTION: Slippery!

"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.'But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell." Matthew 5:27-30

Looking with lust leads to lust taking hold in one's heart leads to inappropriate sexual contact and words leads to adultury. CAUTION: Slippery!

I'm not saying that everyone who makes one slip will slide down the entire mountain. There is grace and there is always a way back to God. What I am saying is that there are clear situations that God says "be wise, don't go there!" as a way of protecting us. It is much easier to keep our footing if we never walk on the slippery edge. And, as the song says, sometimes we have slid a long way (or faded a long way from our starting point) before we ever realize what has happened.

CAUTION: Slippery!

Amy at In Pursuit of Proverbs 31 is our hostess this week. I am sure you will be blessed if you visit her and the other incredible ladies that write for IOW each week.

Be blessed and may your feet stay on stable ground!