Road Signs “Some Things Bear Repeating” Repeating”

The Onion God The enemy Curse Disobedience Foolishness

ONE WAY Your direction, not your intentions, determines your destination.

The Path Principle

Getting Lost 1.Getting lost is never part of the plan 2.We never know when we’re getting lost; we just know when we are. 3.The road you’re on ultimately determines where you end up.

The Path Principle Your direction determines your destination. Your feet go in the direction you point them. Your life goes in the direction of your choices.

The Path Principle is clear to us when we are talking about driving… but we tend not to think this way in life. There is a disconnect. We think that, somehow, we can get around the Path Principle. We think (and the world tells us) that our intentions matter more than our decisions.

The Path Principle applies to… DatingDating Choices of friendsChoices of friends What you do on the weekendsWhat you do on the weekends CollegeCollege Your futureYour future It is your direction that matters, not… your intentions,your intentions, your hopes,your hopes, your dreams,your dreams, your prayers, oryour prayers, or your beliefs.your beliefs.

We think that our intentions, hopes, dreams, prayers, and beliefs somehow trump the decisions we make on a daily basisWe think that our intentions, hopes, dreams, prayers, and beliefs somehow trump the decisions we make on a daily basis The truth is that the Path Principle trumps our intentions, hope, dreams, prayers, and beliefsThe truth is that the Path Principle trumps our intentions, hope, dreams, prayers, and beliefs

Proverbs 7: 6-26

Proverbs 7:6-7 “At the window of my house I looked out through the lattice. I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who lacked judgment”“At the window of my house I looked out through the lattice. I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who lacked judgment”

Proverbs 7:8-9 “He was going down the street near her corner, walking along in the direction of her house at twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in”“He was going down the street near her corner, walking along in the direction of her house at twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in”

Proverbs 7:10-15 “Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent. (She is loud and defiant, her feet never stay at home; now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.) She took hold of him and kissed him and with a brazen face she said: ‘I have fellowship offerings at home; today I fulfilled my vows. So I came out to meet you; I looked for you and have found you!’“Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent. (She is loud and defiant, her feet never stay at home; now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.) She took hold of him and kissed him and with a brazen face she said: ‘I have fellowship offerings at home; today I fulfilled my vows. So I came out to meet you; I looked for you and have found you!’

Proverbs 7:16-18 “I have covered my bed with colored linens from Egypt. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. Come, let’s drink deep of love till morning; let’s enjoy ourselves with love!”“I have covered my bed with colored linens from Egypt. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. Come, let’s drink deep of love till morning; let’s enjoy ourselves with love!”

Proverbs 7:19-21 “My husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey. He took his purse filled with money and will not be home till full moon. With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk.”“My husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey. He took his purse filled with money and will not be home till full moon. With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk.”

Proverbs 7: “All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him his life”“All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him his life”

Contrast of perspectives Youth “It’s just a date”“It’s just a date” Focused on what he’s doingFocused on what he’s doing Focused on the immediateFocused on the immediate Focused on the here and nowFocused on the here and now Wise man “No, it’s a path”“No, it’s a path” Focused on where he’s headedFocused on where he’s headed Focused on the ultimateFocused on the ultimate Focused on the futureFocused on the future

Proverbs 7:24-25 “Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say. Do not let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths”“Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say. Do not let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths”

Wouldn’t it be great if weWouldn’t it be great if we actually saw signs like that!!! Blinded by desireBlinded by desire Bought into a culture that saysBought into a culture that says “Follow Your Heart” “Follow Your Heart” & “It doesn’t hurt to look” “It doesn’t hurt to look”

The young guy is thinking: “Paths? It’s just an event. I just went to her house”The young guy is thinking: “Paths? It’s just an event. I just went to her house” We have thoughts like:We have thoughts like: –“It’s just the prom.” –“This is just spring break.” –“It’s just a movie.” But Solomon is saying it’s not. It’s a direction. It’s a path.But Solomon is saying it’s not. It’s a direction. It’s a path.

Proverbs 7:26 “Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng”“Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng”

Here’s the shocker… This was written over 3,000 years ago.This was written over 3,000 years ago. Things are not so different. In fact they are…Things are not so different. In fact they are… predictable predictable

Here’s the point… There is a disconnect in our cultureThere is a disconnect in our culture Culture says that “as long as your intentions are good, as long as you mean well, and as long as you find friends to justify your plan to end up somewhere good, it doesn’t matter what path you take.”Culture says that “as long as your intentions are good, as long as you mean well, and as long as you find friends to justify your plan to end up somewhere good, it doesn’t matter what path you take.”

What will you do? When that friend or leader or teacher says, “Hey, I see what you are doing…” I see your behavior…” I see you decisions…” “and I think you are going in a very bad direction.” Will you listen?

Is your relational or spiritual path going to take you where you want to go?Is your relational or spiritual path going to take you where you want to go? Jesus said in John 14:6 I am THE PATH… no one gets to the destination of the Father but through me! Has someone tried to warn you and you ignored it?Has someone tried to warn you and you ignored it?

Has someone tried to point out a warning sign but you thought…Has someone tried to point out a warning sign but you thought… –you were smarter than that –or cooler than that –or slicker than that. You’re not. It is a principle!

Has someone tried to point out a warning sign but you thought…Has someone tried to point out a warning sign but you thought… –that somehow you would find a way to work it out –that somehow what happens to everyone else on that path isn’t going to happen to you –that you will somehow avoid the fact that everyone else on that path ends up at the same destination

You can’t avoid it; it’s a principle.You can’t avoid it; it’s a principle. Your path determines your destination.Your path determines your destination. The direction, not intention, determines your destination.The direction, not intention, determines your destination. So the question is: what path are you on and where is it taking you?So the question is: what path are you on and where is it taking you? Ask God to give you insight to see where you are and where you are not.Ask God to give you insight to see where you are and where you are not. If you need to make a change, pray for Him to give you courage to do something about it.If you need to make a change, pray for Him to give you courage to do something about it.