"The Seven: Lust"

“The path you’re on determines where you will end up”.

What I will try to teach you today is that it is not our intentions, motivations, or even our dreams and desires that determine where our life ends up but it’s the path we choose to walk on; the direction determines destination. That’s the principle. There is a direct correlation between the path we choose and where we end up in life.

Now here’s the scoop: What I just said is not rocket science. In fact, it’s simple and pretty basic, even obvious. But what we’re gonna see today is that as obvious as that is, I mean even when we look at a map we know that direction determines destination. But as obvious as it may seem, the truth is when it comes to the paths we have chosen such as:
relational
moral
sexual, especially when it comes to the sin of lust
marriage
lust

The truth is that many of us have our feet on a path and we haven’t checked out where that path leads because we believe we’re:
-smart enough
-careful enough
-slick enough or
-cautious enough
We believe we can place our feet on any path we want, and we can determine the outcome. The truth is “the path itself determines the outcome”, not your smarts, your intellect, your personality or your desires. It’s the path.

Every single path has a pre-determined destination, and you can’t change it!
And so the question we must ask ourselves is not “how are we doing in life?” or “how close to lines of sin can I walk without crossing over?” or “how much success does it take in life to override a moral failure?”.

No, the question we must ask is this. Ready? “Have I placed my feet on a path that takes me in a direction I desire to go in because every path has a predetermined destination, especially when it comes to lust and sexual sin”.

Let me read you a great section/story from the book of Proverbs in the Bible; words of wisdom written from an old sage; a man of wisdom to his son.

[A picture shown of a 21 year old listening to his Grandfather, soaking up every word.]
Proverbs 7:6-15

The old man says, “At the window of my house I looked out through the lattice. I noticed among the young men a youth who lacked judgment and he was going down the street near her corner, walking along in the direction of her house. It was twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in. 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 a feast prepared at home. Today I fulfilled my vows (a cultural thing), so I came out to meet you. I looked for you and have found you!” Now, I gotta be honest. I’m reading this thing and I’m thinking, “not a bad beginning to the story”. You can almost see the young man leaning in to hear more from the old sage.
So, she comes up to him and kisses him and says, “I’m in a good place. It’s a special day, a day of celebration, and I want to celebrate with you”.

Her point to the young man is this: that this is a unique experience. In fact, this is the first time this has ever happened. Isn’t it amazing, you walking here with nowhere to go and me just happening to be here. Isn’t it special? Isn’t this unique? It really must be meant to be. And the young man says, “wow, I guess so. What ever you say”.

Proverbs 7:16-22
“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! 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.
All at once he followed her, and he’s thinking, “it doesn’t get any better. This is gonna be great. It’s gonna be a night to remember. I’m in the right place at the right time. A unique experience…sweet deal….nice program”.

But, the words of wisdom, the voice of discernment and good judgement is looking at his situation from a completely different angle. Look at the old sages description of what path the young man is on:
“All at once he followed her . . .”

Proverbs 7:22b & 23
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. Like an ox going to slaughter, ever see this? It’s just a big, bloody, stinky, mess. Think about that…and the ox never knows where he’s headed.
A deer in a noose: silent – choking – death.
A bird in a snare: - it had no idea it was so close to death.

Now, I’m just guessing, but my bet is that none of those word pictures are what the young man had in mind while he is with the woman that night. He was thinking, “it doesn’t get any better than this”. He’s thinking, “you proverbs – wisdom guy, you don’t have a clue what you’re talking about. Look at her. That is not the path I’m on. What do you know? Ox to the slaughter, bird in a snare. I am so sure! Did you hear what she promised me? Did you smell that perfume? Have you seen her? I’ll be just fine. Trust me”.

And the writer of Proverbs says to the young man, “the path you’re on is not unique, and it’s not new or unique to just you. This isn’t some new territory that only you have discovered young man. No, people have traveled this road 100’s of 1000’s of times. In fact, the old sage says, so many people have traveled this path over 1000’s of years that I know exactly what’s gonna happen. You’re like an ox going to the slaughter and one day you’re gonna wake up and wonder, “how in the world did I get into this”? And the answer is simple: you put your feet on a path. It may not have been your intent to mess up your life. It wasn’t your goal or dream, but so what? None of those have anything to do with your destination my son, he says. You simply chose a path with a pre-determined destination and that is where you’ve arrived; an ox at the slaughter house.

So the voice of wisdom and truth says, “young man, where your life ends up has nothing to do with your drive, intellect, goals, education, or dreams. Those don’t do it. The Path determines your destination. You’ve chosen a path that will morally leave you bankrupt. It’s just a matter of time. I know where you’re headed the old man says. In fact, people, isn’t it true that as soon as I read those verses today, everyone of you knew where he was headed as well? It’s not a mystery, but here’s what we don’t always understand.

Somehow in our lives this simple truth of the Principle of the Path is a mystery. It’s a fog. Often, we find ourselves wandering around clueless because we think we’re charting a new course into new territory, and we think it’s unique to us, and God says, “don’t be foolish. There’s only a few paths people follow; just a handful.” And God says, “ I already know what’s at the end of all of them. I know where every path leads, and I would love to shine a light on all of those for you”.
See, God says it’s not your smarts or personality or wit or connections that make the difference. It’s the PATH! Every path has a predetermined destination.

See, the young man in our story is so focused on what is on the path - what’s right in front of him, and what he will experience right now on the edge of his path. But, watch the difference. The old man of wisdom is focused on the path itself and what he will experience later. The path determines the destination . . .

This may help clarify this even more.

I love to drive. I love it! I like exploring new roads, new ways to get from here to there; drives Pam crazy. Anyway, last week we went hunting for a day, a crazy day. Had all the kids with us. Anyway, we were up in the hills near Diefenbaker Lake and we got following a path in this field that led up into the hills where I figured there might be some deer. I thought, well, we’re headed in the right general direction, so I kept going. At the end of that field road, after a few miles, we eventually hit another road. Did I mention that it had gotten really foggy while we were driving? Anyway, when we hit that other road I said to Pam, “this will probably lead us to Lucky Lake”. Destination.

Key word - probably. Well, we followed it and followed it and followed it, all the while thinking it was going to Lucky Lake when actually it was headed in a whole other direction and we ended up having to turn around . . . which was very hard for me to do . . . especially after Pam had been hinting for quite a while that she thought Lucky Lake was the other way.

It is so hard to suck it up at that point, as a man. Moral of the story: the path you’re on determines your destination – not your truck, or your gut feel, or your sense of direction.
It just makes sense doesn’t it? I mean you would think I’m crazy if I said,
“ yeah, I’m gonna drive south down highway 11 on my way to Prince Albert”. You’d say, “Dean, if you go south you’re gonna end up in Regina not Prince Albert”. What, are you crazy? But you know what? In life we do that. We think we can out wit the path we’ve chosen. We do.

We choose the path of a work-a-holic and then we wonder 14 years later why our marriage is in trouble and why we don’t have any intimacy in our relationship; why we can’t communicate to each other. We think we have a marriage problem. No, it’s not a marriage problem. We have a path problem. We arrived exactly where that path led to. See, you can’t give everything to your work and have your best at home too.
Those roads don’t co-exist – it’s one road, and where you end up is determined by the path you choose.
Pornography is a path and lots of us choose it thinking “I’m smarter and stronger than this path”. I know that hidden secrets can be bad for some people but really, what’s a little secret? What’s a little lie. I can out wit this path I’m walking on. I’ll just lock the door, just wipe it off the history of the computer, just lie a little bit to my wife and kids and all the while we’re walking on a path that will lead us every time to heartache and addiction and lack of trust in relationships. Every time.

Immorality is a path. See, you can’t sleep around with anyone you want whenever you want either before or after you’re married and then expect to have this ultimate intimacy packed oneness with that one person the rest of your married life. How come you say? Because the path is clear and the path chooses the destination once you’re on it. Not you or your dream, but the path determines the destination. You know what? I can’t even count the number of people who have been through my office in the past 16 years with huge regrets morally. And it’s kinda funny, but not hilarious, because everybody says the same thing . . .

“I can’t believe where my life is at. I can’t believe what a mess I’m in. I can’t believe how my family is ripped apart or I can’t figure out why I don’t want anybody close to me anymore. I can’t believe she doesn’t trust me any more, or I can’t believe I’ve lost them all. Sexual immorality is a path that we think we can out wit and we say, “It will be just fine. My kids will be okay. My heart will not get hurt. My mind won’t be changed”.

Like an ox going to slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose, like a bird darting into a snare; little knowing it will cost him his life.

Every road has a destination and folks it’s the road that chooses that destination not us.
Well, so what? What do you do with this wonderful Principle of the Path especially if you find yourself on the wrong one when it comes to lust. Or maybe you just want to know which ending the path you are following will have.

Application: My hope is that this could be a wake up call to some of you or a life preserver if you’re on the verge of disaster. Or, if the path you’re on isn’t where you want to go but you don’t know any different, here’s how to apply his principle:

4 words . . . First word

STOP - LOOK - LISTEN - LEARN

At some point along the way the best thing to do if you’re not exactly sure of where you’re going, the best thing to do is to stop – to pull over on the edge of that path . . . just STOP.
Now this might look like a couple of hours alone or it might look like a day away, or a weekend by yourself to just rev down a little bit and say, “before I take even one more step down this path I’m just gonna stop and ask myself some hard questions. I’m just gonna unplug for a little while and refocus and stop!

I’m gonna not answer that phone call
I’m gonna not go on the internet
I’m gonna not go for that drink after work
I’m just gonna stop walking down this path for a bit and after your stop then you’ve gotta
Look – 2nd word

LOOK

And instead of looking at what’s in front of you right now, instead of looking right here today, you’ve gotta look way down the road and ask the question, “if I continue the direction I’m headed, where will it end up?” Not how smart am I or how can I out wit this path, but where does this pathway I’m on lead? Where does it go? Relationally, if I continue, where will I be? Sexually, if I continue, where will I be? Morally? As a parent? Where will I end up? In my business? Physically?
You gotta ask the question, where will I end up? Not am I enjoying the trip but where does the path lead? Now catch this - you must not fool yourself into thinking that if you’re smart enough or slick enough or have the right connections that you can out wit the path because, remember, every path has a pre-determined destination. And while you’re looking, make sure to
Listen – 3rd word

LISTEN
Because somewhere in your life there is the voice of wisdom, the voice
of reason. Perhaps it’s someone who has walked the path before who knows the destination; someone who you could go for lunch with and just say “Here’s where I’m at. What do you think?”
Folks, listening is all about being teachable. It’s all about being humble. It’s all about not thinking you or I know it all. And you know what? Every significant path change for the better that my life has taken involved someone else who I was willing to listen to and someone who had enough guts to speak into my life and say “there’s another path other than the one you’re following”.

Or, “have you seen or thought through the path you’re on? I think there is trouble there”. Every great path change involves someone with a voice of wisdom in my life, every time.

And the converse is also true. Every time I have had huge regret in my life from following a wrong path if I think back along that path, there was somebody that gave we a warning. Someone that I didn’t listen to, someone who had the words of wisdom I needed but I thought I was too smart or too fast or too right to listen and that they were wrong. They must be, and I was right. And then came the reality of where the path led.

Listening is critical but it only comes after you stop and take a long look; then we can listen. And, after we listen, we gotta
Learn - 4th word
LEARN

You know what? This book, the Bible, shed’s more light on more paths than
any other book in the world. Why? These are God’s words, God’s ideas, God’s thoughts about life. This book describes the pathway.

Psalm 119:105
“Your word is a lamp unto my feet, a light for my path.” This book, the Bible, is like a giant light on all the paths of life.

And it says:
here is what happens when
here is what happens if
here is what happens
Here are the ends of the paths of life. A lamp and a light. All we have to do is learn.

Folks, here’s who God is. Our God is a God who loves us so much. He cares about us so much that He says, “you don’t have to walk in darkness, you don’t have to walk in a fog about the future. I’ll light the path for you”. People, follow this path, the path of wisdom. God says “stay connected to me. Follow my pathway and you won’t have to learn everything the hard way”. God says, “I know you’re smart and I know you think you can control the future, and I know you think you can change the direction of the path you’re on. But you can’t. The path determines the destination . . . not you . . . and the destination is pre-determined by the path and where you place your feet makes all the difference in the world”.

Let me read you another verse to close; just a few pages from the story I read to you earlier.

Proverbs 4:18 & 19
The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.
The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of the dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

People, there is a path that leads to the greatest destination you can imagine. It is a destination of soul and yes, there are still hazards and corners and places where you could stumble. But, if you hold to that path and stay focused on the future, you’ll find that the fog will lift and the darkness will fall away and God will shine his light on the road ahead of you. It’s a path that leads away from destruction and regret and it leads directly towards fulfillment and joy and peace and life. Follow that pathway with your feet. You will not be disappointed.