Feet racing to evil!

Proverbs 6:16–19

16 There are six things that the Lord hates,
    seven that are an abomination to him:
17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
    and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked plans,
    feet that make haste to run to evil,

Out of all of the sins we have looked at this week, this one convicted me the most. Today, we look at how our feet make haste to run to evil.

Why does this convict me? Because it shows how readily I race to do what I should not! The verse does not simply say our feet lead us to evil, but we do so with urgency. Notice the two descriptions—make haste and run. Some of you have not run in years or decades. Even the thought of running causes your knees to ache, but are you running to evil?

We are quick to blame the enemy for tempting us, but sometimes temptation does not have to chase us—we chase it.

I don’t need alluring fruit; I just want a moment of pleasure, of happiness, of peace. I don’t need something fragile to break to get me upset; my mood is fragile enough. I simply need a car that stays still for two seconds at a green light to upset me. I simply need an email I misread to create bitterness and jealousy. I need a glance at a magazine cover to lead me down a rabbit trail of lustful thoughts. I only need to see someone happy to begin to judge or envy.

I race toward evil more often than I want to admit. I am quick to anger and quick to judge. I am fast to be furious and slow to be patient.

Where do your feet naturally run when you are angry, lonely, bored, stressed, jealous, or tired? What sin requires almost no convincing because part of you already wants to go there?

Wisdom means recognizing the roads that lead us toward evil and refusing to take the first step. Don't see how close you can get. Don't linger at the entrance. Turn your feet in another direction.

You cannot run toward wisdom while continuing to sprint toward the things God has told you to flee.