Text: " The Lord hates six things; in fact, seven are detestable to him: ... feet eager to run to evil ..." - Proverbs 6:18b(CSB)
"In the beginning, God was revealed in all the works of creation. It was Christ that spread the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth. It was His hand that hung the worlds in space, and fashioned the flowers of the field.“His strength setteth fast the mountains.”“The sea is His, and He made it.” Psalm 65:6; 95:5. It was He that filled the earth with beauty, and the air with song. And upon all things in earth, and air, and sky, He wrote the message of the Father's love.
Now sin has marred God's perfect work, yet that handwriting remains. Even now all created things declare the glory of His excellence. There is nothing, save the selfish heart of man, that lives unto itself. No bird that cleaves the air, no animal that moves upon the ground, but ministers to some other life. There is no leaf of the forest, or lowly blade of grass, but has its ministry. Every tree and shrub and leaf pours forth that element of life without which neither man nor animal could live; and man and animal, in turn, minister to the life of tree and shrub and leaf. The flowers breathe fragrance and unfold their beauty in blessing to the world. The sun sheds its light to gladden a thousand worlds. The ocean, itself the source of all our springs and fountains, receives the streams from every land, but takes to give. The mists ascending from its bosom fall in showers to water the earth, that it may bring forth and bud." Desire of Ages, page 20.
To contemplate the incredible gift that God has intended for us in this life is to ponder the majesty and magnificence of His character. 1 John 1:5 declares this of Him. "This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all."
When the lord presented the world in all of its Edenic glory to Adam and Eve , He bid them to be fruitful and to multiply. He also gave them the dominion over it and it has ever been God's intention to pour the blessing of His sustaining grace and love through us to the creation. To partake of His blessing and to extend it in selfless service for the pure, unblemished benefit of others is God's way. To reflect and to fulfill His will without restraint or personal motive or benefit is a choice that is very alien to the selfish notions of the carnal heart.
Under sin, we don't naturally incline towards others, but seek to exalt ourselves, often at the expense of others. But God would lead us to a higher, more holy standard. In our text, we are reminded that God is not pleased with those whose feet are eager to run to evil. In this we should ever be reminded that God hates sin, but loves the sinner. His love for us moves Him to provide the very best opportunity for each of us to rise above the dictates of sin. He would grant us new hearts that would naturally incline towards Himself and others in willing, obedient service.
He still desires to bless others through us as we willingly choose to present ourselves to Him as channels of His grace. As a christian, I was not saved to do my will, but to fulfill His will in the strength that He provides me.
Interestingly enough, I have found this choice to run to God and away from evil, as a tremendous, empowering experience. As I have asked the Lord to fulfill His will in my life, He has awakened within me a greater of understanding of the gifts He gave me, and the blessing it is to share these gifts purely for Him. I never wrote music before I was baptized, but the Lord blessed this talent and my life has been filled with opportunities to travel and to share beyond my wildest expectations.
The best decision I ever made was to turn my back on the ways of this world, to embrace the ever-expanding, life giving love that God offered me in Christ. I will not apologize for the prayerful, meditative lifestyle that I find in Christ through the reading of His word.
Proverbs challenged me to make some changes in my life. In His strength, and by His grace, I have. How about you? Are you feeling convicted to let a few things go that you might more fully embrace the reality of the kingdom of light? Run to Christ. He can help you. Please, do it today!