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PROVERBS 4:18-19
As you look at the many rivers that flow across this country and the world, what is the one thing that they all have in common? Yes they all have water, but that is not what I am looking for. The answer is really simple if you think about it. They are all crooked. I don't know about you, but I have never seen a river that flowed straight-as-an-arrow, never bending in one direction or the other. They all meander through the environment in which they are flowing. No two rivers have the exact pattern but each one is uniquely distinct.
The reason no two rivers are identical in flow patterns is because water, as it flows, will take the path of least resistance. If something is in its way, it will just flow around it. Thus, the rivers shape will constantly change depending on what is influencing it or what is in its way. When you look at life it is really not very different. Most people will flow through life taking the path of least resistance, going with the flow of this world.
Now in doing that, as you meander through life, not wanting to cause any trouble, succumbing to the peer pressure that is around you, bending to those things that the world is bombarding you with, you will eventually find yourself living a very crooked life!
In a sense that is what Solomon is speaking of here in Proverbs chapter 4. He is comparing the just with the unjust, the godly with the ungodly, the light with the darkness. As Christians we all want to live lives that are pleasing to the Lord and want to shine forth His character to those around us. None of us want to live lives that are crooked, we don't want to meander through life, but take the straight and narrow path that the Lord has placed before us. And so, if you would, please turn to Proverbs chapter 4, and lets begin reading in verse 18.
PROVERBS 4:18-19
As you read through this section of Scripture, you can see two different types of people emerge, two distinctly different ways of life, the righteous and the wicked. And as we look at these two kinds of people this morning, we will see what is manifest in both their lives.
1. THE WAY OF THE RIGHTEOUS - LIGHT PROVERBS 4:18
"But the path of the just is like the shining sun,
That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day."
As I was meditating on this portion of Scripture, I saw the Christian life as a Polaroid picture. As soon as the button on the camera is pushed, the picture begins to develop, even though it is initially blank. But over time the picture will develop, and shapes, color and-so-on will come shinning through. In reality, that is what happens to us when we are saved. Once we accept Christ into our lives, the camera button is pressed, you might say, and our life that once was in darkness, with no shape or color to it, begins to develop. Paul put it this way in Philippians 1:6 when he said "being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."
When the light of God shines into our lives we begin the transformation process. A process where God is molding and shaping us into His image. And it is a life long process, but as Paul said, what God has begun in our lives, He will complete. And when our life in these temporary dwelling places, these bodies is over, then the picture will be complete, and we will enter into glory with our Lord.
I like the way Paul put it in II Corinthians 3:18. He said "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord."
In the previous verses of II Corinthians chapter 3, Paul is speaking of the glory that was upon the face of Moses as he spoke with the Lord. And as Moses came down from the mountain his face shown forth the glory of God. But as time passed by that glory faded and so Moses put a veil upon his face so that the children of Israel would not see the glory of God diminish. You see, it was a transitory glory that was upon the face of Moses.
But here in verse 18 Paul speaks to us as Christians, and is saying to us that God's glory upon our lives is an ever increasing glory or one that goes from glory to glory. Think about it this way, Moses reflected the glory of God, but we as Christians radiate the glory of God.
How does this happen? The more you spend time with the Lord, the brighter the light in you will shine forth till one day we enter into glory with Him. Paul speaks of us seeing the Lord as in a mirror, we don't see Him face-to-face, but His reflection, His accurate reflection is seen through the Word of God. Jesus said in John 5:39 "You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me." Thus, it is the Word of God through the Spirit of God, that is transforming us into the image of God. In I John 3:2 John said "Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is."
That is what Solomon is speaking of here in Proverbs 4:18. Spending time with the Lord and allowing Him to shine through us. You see, the more time you spend in the SUN the more the suns affects will be seen upon your life. For those that are fair skinned people you might turn red as you get sun burn and thus, the suns affects are clearly seen upon your life. For those that don't get burned, your skin becomes darker or you get a tan. In either case, the more time you spend in the SUN the more you will radiate its affects upon those around you.
The same is true as we spend time with the SON of GOD, Jesus Christ. The more time you spend with Him the more His attributes will shine forth in your life and the less time you spend with Him the less of His attributes will be seen in your life. But Solomon tell us this light that is radiating from our lives should grow brighter and brighter every day of our life.
You see, as we continue down the path that God has set before us, the path of the just, we are walking in fellowship with Him. And as we continue down this path the more we will be transformed into His image and shine brighter and brighter every day. It is as Paul said in Romans 13:12-14. We read "The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts."
Some Christians today are like Moses, in that the glory that was once shinning from their lives has begun to fade away, some only having a flickering ember. You see, they can't radiate God's glory because they have cut themselves off from the source. Thus, over time, that glory will begin to fade away. The only way to reverse that process is to come in contact with that source of energy, that source of life, that source of light, that was radiating from your life before, Jesus Christ. You see, you can't radiate what you don't have, and if you are not walking in fellowship with Him, you are not going to be radiating His glory, you are not going to shine forth brightly.
I like the way one song puts it. It goes:
TURN YOU EYES UPON JESUS;
LOOK FULL IN HIS WONDERFUL FACE;
AND THE THINGS OF EARTH WILL GROW STRANGELY DIM
IN THE LIGHT OF HIS GLORY AND GRACE.
And yes, in a positional sense we are transformed and perfect before God by the blood of Christ. But in a practical sense God is still molding and shaping our lives, transforming us into His image. And that takes time, just as it takes time for the Polaroid picture to develop.
You see, when Adam and Eve were created they were created in the image of God. The Holy Trinity were all actively involved in the creation process, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Thus, in Genesis 1:26-27 we read "Then God said, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.' So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them."
Adam and Eve, when they were created, were a reflection of God. But when they sinned that reflection became distorted, and it has become so distorted today, many are so far removed from what God intended them to be, that they act like wild animals.
Think of it this way, when you look at your reflection in a lake, it is a accurate reflection of what you look like. But if you were to take a large stone or rock and toss it into the water, that reflection would become distorted, it no longer would be clear or accurate. That is what sin has done, like a giant rock cast into the waters of life, it has distorted our reflection of God in us. But Christ has come to restore that, He has come to calm those ripples, those distortions, so that we can reflect the character of God to those around us.
Turn to II Corinthians chapter 2, and lets look at verses 14-16. We read "Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?"
Paul has in mind a Roman Triumphal Procession, kind of like a "ticker-tape parade" for a conquering general. For him to be honored in this manner he had to win a complete victory over an enemy in a foreign land, not a civil war. There had to be at least 5,000 enemy soldiers that were killed in this battle and there had to be new territory that was gained for the Emperor.
If this was accomplished this victory parade would be given for him as he would ride in a golden chariot through the streets of Rome followed by his children. Also in this victory parade were his soldiers, the spoils from the victory, and their captors who would be imprisoned or put to death. Also, there would be the priests who would burn incense to their gods and the smell of the incense would permeate the area. To the victors it was a sweet smelling aroma and to the captors it was the aroma of death for them.
Paul likens Christ to a victor who has defeated the enemy, taken back that which was usurped by the enemy, and now is leading the way in this triumphal procession. But instead of killing 5,000 Jesus came to give us life and He has given life to thousands upon thousands through His work at Calvary, the shedding of His blood. None need to be a prisoner, none need to die in their sins, for He came to save all that was lost. The tragedy is many will reject that gift.
For those who come to Him by faith, we are adopted into His family, and once in the family of God we can join in this victory parade, following our victor, Jesus Christ. In Revelation 19:14, as Jesus Christ comes back to set up His kingdom here on earth, we will be with him. It says of us "And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses."
Paul goes on to say that we, as God's children, will manifest the fragrance of Jesus in our life, a fragrance of His knowledge will permeate wherever we go. That word "knowledge" speaks of knowing someone experientially, to understand, it is even used of sexual relations between married couples.
That tells me that Paul is speaking of a closeness that we have with the Lord. That we would desire to know Him intimately, that we would desire a oneness with Him. And as we do then His fragrance will flow through our lives. What a joy that should be for us. Instead of trying to cover up the smells of the world with artificial smells, we can have the beautiful, good, sweet smelling fragrance of Jesus flow through our lives.
Now just like any smell, some people will love it and others will hate it. The Gospel is no different, it produces paradoxical results in peoples lives. To those that smell the fragrance of Jesus in our lives, and it is distasteful to them, they don't want anything to do with it, they are moving in a direction that will lead to death. And if you truly love the Lord, you are not going to be able to do anything about this smell, nor would you want to. This smell will follow you wherever you go, it will permeate the area around you. And some will be totally offended by that. Why? Because they feel conviction upon their life, and they see that what Jesus has to say for those who reject Him is a death sentence. Like the prisoners in the parade, they are being lead away for a death sentence. Thus, the fragrance of Jesus to them is the aroma of death!
But for those who receive Christ, are drawn to His fragrance, it is a aroma to life, eternal life. And don't you see that happen as you go out into the world and the fragrance of Jesus flows from your life. Some are drawn to it, they want to know more, and others will hate it, they will run from it.
You see, just living the Christian life will affect people around you differently. And Paul said "Who is sufficient for these things?" In other words, how can we handle it? How can we do those things we need to do? How can we allow the aroma of Jesus to flow through us? By being close to Him! As Paul said in II Corinthians 3:5 "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God."
Thus, if you want to radiate the light of God in your life you need to be next to the one who says "...'I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.'" John 8:12. The more you spend time with Jesus Christ, allowing the Spirit of God to teach you through His Word, His light in you will grow brighter and brighter every day. In fact Jesus tells us in Matthew chapter 5 that we are to be a light to this world. We read "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16. Thus, like a Polaroid picture, over time, your life will become a beautiful picture of God to those around you to see.
2. THE WAY OF THE WICKED - DARKNESS PROVERBS 4:19
"The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble."
Again, think of this life as a Polaroid picture that has been exposed to the things of this world, and no matter how long you wait, that picture will remain black. No beauty to it at all. It will just be a reflection of what this world is all about outside of Christ.
Paul, in Ephesians chapter 4, is admonishing us not to walk like the unsaved and he will tell us the reason why. In Ephesians 4, beginning in verse 17, Paul says "This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to licentiousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts." Ephesians 4:17-22.
Paul tells us that they are walking "in the futility of their minds." The Greek word for "futility" is MATAIOTETI, which speaks of being void of useful aims or goals. In other words, the unsaved are content with walking in emptiness, refusing to allow God to guide them and their conduct according to His Word.
You see, that is the whole reason they have been alienated from God, because they have refused the truth of God. And since they have been alienated from God they are also alienated from the life that comes from God.
Now in rejecting the love of the truth, they have also hardened their hearts to it. And that my friends is a dangerous place to be. That word "harden" comes from the Greek word POROSIS and it speaks of a stone that was harder than marble. The idea being is that the unsaved persons heart can become so hard toward the things of God, so petrified that it no longer has the power to feel at all.
Think of it like a callous that has developed upon your finger, your finger will be very insensitive to hot, cold, and pain unless that callous is removed, that hardness is taken away and the sensitive tissue underneath is exposed. That is what the Lord is saying in Jeremiah 4:4, "Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, And take away the foreskins of your hearts..." In other words, make yourself sensitive to the things of God, don't harden yourself to them. If you harden yourself to the things of God, then these things will come flowing from your life, and they are not pretty as we shall see.
They no longer care what they do and they don't care who sees them do it. Their sin is open for all to see as long as they are being satisfied. They are past any type of restraint but are open to all kinds of evil activities, and they are no longer done in secret, but out in the open for all to see. Licentiousness speaks of a self-gratification at any cost!
There is also a greediness to covet and obtain anything and anyone to meet their needs, their desires, their bodily appetites. To me, this is so evident today, and it is disgusting. Maybe some of you have heard of the new thing that is going around, it is called the "date rape pill," just to call it what it really is. Men will slip this pill into the drink of some unsuspecting woman and in a few minutes they will become unconscious. They then will take this woman to a room and rape her, sometimes one man is involved and sometimes more. And when they wake up they remember nothing of what happened to them. Some kids are even experimenting with this drug at High School parties. And if that is not disturbing enough, they see nothing wrong with what they have done to these women, the rape they have committed was just a night on the town as far as they are concerned!
The reason for these ungodly actions is they "have not so learned Christ." They are not saved and their actions are a reflection of where their heart is at. You see, if you are saved, reading His Word, learning more of Jesus and what He has for your life, then you will put off the old conduct and live the new life you have received in Christ! It is as Paul said In II Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."
The problem is when we reject Christ, the life we are living outside of Christ will continue to degenerate and grow more and more wicked, just as we are seeing today. Proverbs 14:12 tells us the error of their ways. We read "There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death."
The joy is that when we come to Christ we are a new creation and we can grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ every day of our life. There are two paths you can follow, one that leads to darkness, and that is what will permeate your life and radiate from your life. The other path is one that leads to life, to the light of God, and that is what will radiate from your life if we travel down that path.
I think I can safely say that none of us here want to be like the rivers that flow throughout the world, meandering and crooked. We want our lives to travel down that straight and narrow path that our Lord has set before us.
Paul admonishes us in Romans 12:2 by saying "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..." In his translation of this verse, J. B. Phillips paraphrases it like this. "Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold, but let God remake you so that your whole attitude of mind is changed." I like that!
You see, the world will try to get you to compromise your beliefs, pushing you into their molds. We must take a stand and not be conformed to this world, but allow the Lord to transform our lives, our minds, as we read His Word and allow His Spirit to work in us and through us. As Paul said in Ephesians 5:8 "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light"