Goodwill International Schools, Lagos

WISDOM FOR DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Proverbs 12:28
In the way of righteousness is life: and in the pathway thereof there is no death.

Is immortality possible? Is enjoying life while never dying possible? Ponce de Leon sought a fountain of youth. Men try exercise, diet, supplementation, and alternative medicine to enhance life and extend life, but they die as painfully, quickly, and surely as others. Are immortality and eternal life possible? This proverb teaches they are possible. Life without death is found in the way and pathway of righteousness (Pr 10:2; 11:4,19).
Man’s greatest fear is death, and this fear enslaves him to religious lies and all sorts of deceptions and scams (Heb 2:15). If evolution were true, it would have evolved death away long ago as the greatest weakness of each species. But evolution is a lie, for it has not even altered life expectancy in the 4000 years of recorded history. Men can only wish to be saved from death. They have no means to slow it down or stop it (Eccl 8:8).
What is the way of righteousness? It is the life of wisdom – fearing God and keeping His commandments (Pr 8:12-21,32-36; 13:14; 14:27; 16:17; Matt 21:28-32). It is the highway of holiness and road of righteousness – it is the King’s highway – the strait and narrow way of Jesus Christ that leads to life, which only a few ever find (Matt 7:12-14; 22:14).
What is death? It is a physical body dying – and much more. It is also death to fellowship and joy with God (Luke 15:24; I Tim 5:6). It includes the dead state of your soul by your first birth (Gen 2:17; Eph 2:1-3). It is dying before your time by the judgment of God or men (Ps 55:23; Eccl 7:17). It is the second death in the lake of fire (Rev 20:14; 21:8).
Fools face early death by men or God. If they commit capital crimes, the magistrate kills them. If the death penalty is neglected, the Lord kills them. They die from STD’s, jealous spouses, other fools, violent accidents, drug overdoses, and su***de. Parental discipline could save them from these untimely deaths (Pr 23:13-14). And righteousness as simple as honoring their parents could add to their life expectancy (Pr 20:20; 30:17; Eph 6:2-3).
Foolish rebels reject righteousness and reap the grim consequences (Pr 8:36). Do you remember Eli’s sons, Amnon, Ananias and Sapphira, Absalom Adonijah, Haman, Judas, Herod Agrippa I, Nabal, Ona, Lot’s wife, Pharaoh, Goliath, Belshazzar etc.?
Fools who do not die early die without hope, go to hell, and face the second death. While they lived, they were dead; when they are dead, they have yet to die! They hide their dead and dysfunctional lives with alcohol, plastic surgery, fake smiles, and drugs. The horrors of death and hell will take them down, down, down. They will rue the day of their birth; they will grieve in anguish; they will beg for annihilation; there will be no relief, ever.
Reader, righteousness extends life! Wickedness shortens life! In this world and the next! Solomon had seen it among his own brothers and many others of his generation. He repeated the advice and warning many times (Pr 3:2,16; 8:35-36; 9:11; 10:16,25,27-28,30; 11:4,7-8,19; 12:3,7; 13:9,14,22; 14:11,32; 15:24; 19:23; 21:12,15,21; 28:10,18).
Righteous men enjoy the good life now (Pr 3:18; John 10:10). They are passed from death to life already and shall never be condemned (John 5:24). At death, their souls go to heaven; their bodies sleep in the grave, waiting for the resurrection (John 11:25-26; Acts 7:60; I Thess 4:14). The second death has no power over them (Rev 20:6,15). Where can you learn more about immortality? The gospel of Jesus Christ (II Tim 1:9-10; Tit 1:1-4)!
Many ungodly and wicked people are long dead, but those in the way of righteousness mock death! They shout in confident derision against their once fatal enemy, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? … But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Cor 15:55-57). Are you wise enough and courageous enough to leave the wide gate and broad way to join them (Matt 7:12-14)?

Proverbs 24:1
Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.

Envy against evil men is desiring and begrudging their pleasure and prosperity in sin. It is thinking that holy living is too strict. It includes desire to be with the wicked and share their joys. But such thoughts forget the depravity of their empty lives and the coming Judgment, when the righteous will be rewarded and the wicked destroyed (Ec 12:13-14).

The excitement and glitter of this world can make saints doubt the life of self-denial to which they are called. Even Asaph, the wonderful song leader appointed by David, had problems with envying the wicked. His lesson is the best reading on this subject (Ps 73:1-28). David and Solomon also warned against it (Pr 23:17-18; 24:19-20; Ps 37:1,7).

Men envy whoremongers’ variety. Wives envy a single woman’s freedom and lifestyle. Men envy riches and honors of ambitious peers. Children envy the toys and freedom of spoiled peers. Women envy attention given to immodest dressers. Men envy the free use of Sundays by church-rejecters. Preachers envy the crowds of compromising ministers.

Sin has pleasure. Only fools deny it. But there are a few small problems with sin that every wise man should consider. The pleasure of sin is very short, something like seconds (Pr 20:17; Gen 3:7; II Sam 13:1-20; Ps 36:1-2; Heb 11:25). Acts of sin by God’s children carry long-term and painful guilt and shame (II Sam 24:10; Jer 31:18-19; Luke 22:62).

The pleasure of sin brings with it many dysfunctional consequences (Pr 24:30-34; 29:15; Gen 19:30-38; 21:9-11; 38:11-26; I Kgs 11:1-8). Judgment in this life is just around the corner (Pr 13:21; Num 32:23; II Sam 12:7-12; I Kgs 14:6-13; 21:17-26; II Kgs 1:16). And then there is eternal judgment to pay as well (Luke 16:19-26; Heb 9:27; Rev 21:8).

Wise men trust Scripture and defy a pleasure-mad world. They crave God’s approval more than honor from sinners. They walk by faith, so their eyes are looking to heaven (II Cor 4:17-18; Heb 11:6). They do not let the envy of sinners even dull their contentment or peace in Christ. John Newton wrote, “Fading is the worldling’s pleasure, all his boasted pomp and show; solid joys and lasting treasure, none but Zion’s children know.”

Holy and zealous Christians are the only enviable persons in the world. Every adversity to them is a blessing, and every blessing is an earnest deposit of heaven. If you must covet something, crave the spiritual gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit (Matt 5:6; I Cor 12:31; Phil 3:8; I Tim 3:1). And always remember, the pleasures of the wicked are God’s delusions to fatten them for the coming slaughter (Gen 15:16; Ps 50:21-22; Rom 9:17).

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