How close can we get to sin and still be safe?

          Probing Proverbs: ☛5:7-9

 So now, my sons, listen to me. Never stray from what I am about to say: Stay away from her! Don’t go near the door of her house! If you do, you will lose your honor and will lose to merciless people all you have       achieved.☚

I remember when I was growing up that one of the common sayings I heard from men was “There is no harm in looking!” 

I can even remember a very big hit that talked about men that love to look at the ladies. I think I even saw it performed on a variety show on television. I bought into that mentality as a young man, and by the time I entered into a relationship with Christ, lust had gotten a foothold in my life. Although my looking was hurting no one else, I did not understand the damage it was doing to me and how it hurt the Lord. As I wrestled with this issue and an even more difficult one – the difference between lusting and being tempted to lust, I did not realize that the principles of Scripture were beginning to have their impact. This Proverb communicates a Truth that is repeated many times throughout the Word. Don’t entertain the idea of sin. 

The warning that wisdom gives would be well to heed if we truly understand the evil of sin. Constantly I find my flesh wanting to just get a little close to sin, but not “all the way”! How foolish we can be. Wisdom does not say, “don’t knock on the door!” It is much more direct and pointed, “Don’t go near the door!” By going near you could be identified with that sin whether you participated or not, that’s why scripture states: Avoid the very appearance of evil! Once your testimony is compromised it is hard to get back. More than one leader has foolishly met with a woman alone to try and counsel her, or been involved in the finances of the Church without accountability, and these were all innocent things, no evil was intended, however rumors began to come forth and their leadership was compromised.

The other danger is we are not as strong as we think! If you are close to the door of sin, you may enter in if the door is opened. That’s when you will find out that sin has no mercy! Alas, by then it may be too late.

This Truth helped me in the arena of lust. I found that the difference between lusting and being tempted to lust is going back for the second look! We cannot walk around with our eyes shut, and we will look at each person coming toward us, usually from the head to toe. No problem, but if it is an individual that you find yourself attracted to, you can choose to not look again, or especially turn around and look at them from behind. I have found great success in a crowed area just to look into folk’s eyes. That way I can say hi, but I only find eyes attractive in a healthy way, never lustful

Stay in the house of the Lord – no other house is needed!

The so what? Do you play with sin? How dangerous do you think sin is? When you feel tempted, what do you do? Why do you think God hates sin? When you sin, what do you do when you realize it?