ENTER NOT INTO THE PATH OF THE WICKED
What Is The Path Of The Wicked?
The Scripture records, “My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: For their feet run to evil…”
Prv 1:15-16 15My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: 16For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.
Prv 4:14-16 14Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. 15Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. 16For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
The way of a sinner is crooked; thorns and snares are in the way of the foolish people. The worldly people are foolish. They will perish because they walk in the wrong paths (the path of the murderers, the covetous and those who scramble for power). Their hearts are blinded, their feet go down to death and their steps lead straight to the grave. They give no thought to the way of life and they wander aimlessly unknowingly. How pitiful are these people!
Which Are The Paths Of The Wicked?
1. The Path Of Cain
Gen 4:1-8 1And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. 2And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. 4And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 5But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. 6And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 7If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. 8And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
Why did Cain kill his own brother, Abel?
It was because God had respect for Abel and his offering, but not Cain and his offering. Consequently, Cain resented Abel and killed him. Hence, Cain became the first murderer of mankind.
Human nature has remained the same throughout the ages. Believers who fail to please God may wish for others to share similar fates as theirs. They resent those who are favoured by God. The Bible records concerning Joseph who walked in God’s Way. His brothers threw him into a pit and sold him into slavery because he was his father’s favourite son.
Today, we observe that crime rates for murder, assault and fighting are increasing day by day. Are not these crimes the result of jealousy and hatred? Differences in wealth, intelligence, status and education are some of the factors that lead to discontentment and envy among us. However, we the believers should not walk in the path of the envious for they have no love in them. In fact, “love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy….” (1 Cor 13:4).
We should accept it if others do not respect or like us since it is far more important that God favours us and loves us.
Matt 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
The Lord Jesus Christ was despised and rejected by men. He suffered greatly and died on the cross in order to sacrifice His body once for all. Although men reviled Him, God loves Him.
Today, the devil will keep on sowing seeds of jealousy and hatred into men’s hearts so that they will become just like Cain who hated, envied and killed his brother. However, Paul reminds us that we are all one body. Hence, any wrongdoing by a single member of the body will affect all members of the body.
1 Cor 12:26-27 26And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. 27Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
Today, we are all members of one body. Hence, we should help one another so that this body will grow and be established in love. Although Abel was killed by Cain, he was able to please God with his righteousness.
Heb 11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
How about Cain?
He was cursed and punished by God, and became a fugitive and a vagabond on earth in the end.
Elder John said that we should love one another lest we become just like the wicked Cain who slew his brother because his own works were evil but his brother's, righteous.
1 Jhn 3:11-12 11For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
May our conduct before God be found pleasing to Him and our sacrifices be accepted by Him.
2. The Path Of The Gang Of Korah
The gang of Korah wanted to have power and control. They wished to overturn the leadership of Moses and Aaron and replace them. Therefore, they attacked Moses and Aaron. Moses wanted them to speak before God, but they refused. They accused Moses of leading them out in order to kill them and that Moses had made himself a prince over them.
The gang of Korah gathered the Israelites to go against Moses and Aaron by the door of the tabernacle but God’s glory appeared before them. God wanted to cast His wrath on them for rebelling against the chosen leader but Moses prayed for God to forgive the Israelites. In the end, God made the earth open and it swallowed the gang of Korah and their families.
Moses and Aaron were God’s chosen servants. They had performed many signs and wonders to save the Israelites but their power came from God. Had the gang of Korah forgotten this? The Bible tells us that the authority that exists has been established by God. Consequently, whosoever rebel against the authority rebel against what God had instituted, bringing judgment on themselves.
Rom 13:1-2 1Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
Who caused the destruction of the gang of Korah?
They brought destruction on themselves for they rebelled against God’s commandments.
Rom 14:4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
Paul says here, who are we to judge someone else’s servant? Since the gang of Korah questioned God’s faithful servants Moses and Aaron, should they not be destroyed due to their rebellion?
Today, everyone is fighting for power, gain and status. This also happens in God’s church. May the Lord have mercy on believers who thirst for power that they may consider the end of the gang of Korah as a warning. In fact, we should only worship and serve God together in His church. Aside from shouldering the responsibility to preach the gospel to save souls and to work for God, what else is worth fighting for?
3. The Path Of Balaam (Num 22:7-35)
Balaam was a prophet who was asked by Balak the king of Moab to curse the Israelites. Elder Peter says that those who have forsaken the right way have gone astray for they were following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness.
2 Pe 2:15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
Balaam loved the riches (gold) and honour promised by Balak if he would curse the Israelites. He was doubtful of what God had initially told him and so he asked God again. Although his mouth professed that “If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more.”, he was mindful of Balak’s promise in his heart. In the end, he chose to walk in the path of unrighteousness.
The Israelites forgot the works of God, “they waited not for his counsel: But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert…” Consequently, God sent a wasting disease among them.
Psm 106:13-15 13They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel: 14But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. 15And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.
God wanted to stop Balaam from walking in the path of unrighteousness by rebuking him through the mouth of a donkey. Oh Balaam! Was he worse than a donkey? Today, there are many people who are just like Balaam. Though they profess expressly that they do not love money yet they are anxious for more money in secret. Though they claim that they are obedient to God yet they walk in their own paths behind others. We must never let the deceitfulness of riches choke the Word but rather we must remember His grace and His instructions if we do not want to end up like Balaam.
Matt 13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
Today’s society is so wicked that men will kill for money. Balaam did speak God’s words through his mouth, but his heart skewed towards Balak. He used another method to cause the Israelites to fall so that he could obtain the reward promised by Balak. He taught Balak to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel (by teaching them to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit fornication).
Rev 2:14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
Twenty three thousand Israelites died in the plague in a day because of their sins.
1 Cor 10:8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
God is righteous for He searches our hearts. In the end, Balaam was killed alongside the five kings of Midian.
Num 31:8 And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain; namely, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword.
Dear brothers and sisters, “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare…which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith…”
1 Tim 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Only the people of God will flee from these things.
Conclusion
Dear brothers and sisters, our generation today is one where men are full of jealousy, loveless, greedy, unfaithful and compassionless for the sake of power and material gain. Hence, none can comfort us except the Lord Jesus Christ. Having Him with us is indeed enough for us!
There is a path of life before us and that path is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.
Jhn 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
The Lord Jesus Christ was nailed on the cross in order to shed His precious blood for the remission of our sins. He is the Bright Path, the Holy Path and the New and Living Path. We should rely on Him and follow His footsteps instead of entering into the path of the wicked. We must “offer sacrifices well” and love our brethren. We must not walk on the path of those who are greedy for money. Instead, we must listen to the words of God sincerely and not rebel against Him. Let us be humble and submissive in the house of God, and worship Him with one heart and one mind.
In this period of the last days, it is very important for us to keep the Truth and be steadfast in our belief. We must beware of false prophets, false teachers and false brethren, for the book of Jude records, “Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of (Korah) Core.” (Jude 11).
We should take heed of our footsteps. We should not be just like children who are “tossed to and fro, and be carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive” (Eph 4:14).
(Holy Spirit Times 1965 – 180th Issue)