Don’t Go There!

So I’ve just opened my YouVersion BibleApp and my daily alert notified me of today’s bible reading. It’s Proverbs 9:10:
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.”

As is my custom, I decided to read the entire chapter. Then I hit verses 13-18…

The woman Folly is loud;
she is seductive and knows nothing.
She sits at the door of her house;
she takes a seat on the highest places of the town,
calling to those who pass by,
who are going straight on their way,
“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
And to him who lacks sense she says,
“Stolen water is sweet,
and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
But he does not know that the dead are there,
that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
Proverbs 9:13-18 ESV

You know, the Bible has a word for every course of life; it’s simply amazing. The Book of Proverbs is a brilliant collection of godly wisdom on issues of life: finance, family, marriage, parenting, work, relationships, sexual purity…yes, sexual purity!

Bible has a number of counsel on sexual purity and chastity. But I love the visual image these particular verses evoke: “Stolen water is sweet and bread eaten in secret is pleasant but he does not know that the dead are there”
OK, let me be clear… Folly can also be a dude (God is not prejudiced against women) and stolen water in this context means sexual sin.

These verses are so down-to-earth and paints a perfect picture of our 21st century experiences, especially the pressures faced by young people to compromise their commitment to sexual chastity. I feel God wants me to say to a young person reading this blog post; “Don’t branch into the house of foolishness. Don’t go there. Stay focused, your future is bright. Don’t compromise. Don’t give in. Sexual impurity is foolishness, it will turn you to a loaf of bread. Keep yourself pure, grace is available”

If you have broken the hedge already, God says “Come, mercy awaits you. I will forgive, cleanse and make new!”
An awesome invitation beckons, an awesome God awaits.