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Having grown up next to a railroad track, knowing how dangerous a train could be, Jimmy convinced me to go anyway. We were going to shoot snakes in the Trinity River, but we had to traverse a trestle, midway, for the best hunting. All was well until we saw a train coming at full speed. The trestle was too high for us to jump and too dangerous to negotiate the crossties by running to safety. Closer to the landing, I barely made it but Jimmy had to dangle from the side of the trestle until the train passed. What was I thinking? Why did I listen to him?

Scripture says in Proverbs 14:12: “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” There is no question we could have died that day. We had convinced ourselves that everything would be okay. After all, what were the chances a train would come, but it did! I should have remembered Galatians 5:7, “Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?”

So, victory or defeat is in our spiritual walk. How often do we forget to seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance and direction in the decisions we make by trusting Him? Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Child of God, we know right from wrong because of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. 1Corinthians 3:16 reminds us, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” Therefore, Proverbs 1:10 admonishes us in that, “My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.” After all, the only one we must blame is ourselves, as is stated in Romans 6:16 which says, “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?  Only then will we know that the decision we make is the right one. Spiritually, it is always better to ask permission rather than forgiveness.

What a joy it will be in our lives when we have that peace that can only come from the conviction of the Holy Spirt of God! Psalm 1:1-3 tells us, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” 

From My Heart,

Bro. John