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Grave Digging
In Prov. 5:5, we see that the adulteress gives no thought to the way of her life. Are we like that? Do we blindly make our way through each day, never taking heed to the direction in which we are going? Do we neglect to take the time to see the path where we are venturing? For instance, if we are suddenly struggling with fits of rage, do we just flippantly blow it off as being hormonal? Or do we get before the Lord, asking Him to reveal any hidden places in our hearts that may be leading to those fits of rage?
Sometimes the Lord may reveal to us that these fits of rage are a trigger from the past. I have learned that one of my triggers is the springtime. It reminds me, sometimes even subconsciously, of the baby I lost during that time of year. I often fall prey to feelings of hopelessness or extreme anger during that time of year. Rather than continuing to 'dig a grave' with my fleshly emotions, I have allowed the Lord to 'fill the hole' and give me a straight path. When we take the time to allow the Lord to speak to us, we may find that we have some unforgiveness, resentment, or even areas of unconfessed sin, which has caused us to 'dig a grave,' thereby opening a doorway to the enemy, giving him a foothold in our life.
Are we in a place where our fuse seems to be shorter than usual? Do we continue to do as the adulteress, giving no thought to our ways?Once again, we can blame it on hormones. But could it really be that we are neglecting to feed our spirit because we are just too busy doing other things?
Prov. 18:21 tells us that we hold the power of life and death in our tongue. Those who love it will eat its fruit. Notice that the scriptures don't say that we MIGHT eat its fruit, but that we WILL eat its fruit, whether that fruit be good or bad. How many of us know someone who is very bitter with their words? Do you know someone whose tongue is like a viper, ready to strike at any moment? Now think upon what physical ailments they face because of their bitterness. With their own mouths, they have been digging their grave.
In Prov. 11:13 and 16:18 we find that a gossip betrays a confidence and separates close friends. It is so easy to discern who is a gossip. Just close your mouth and listen when you are in the presence of others. The gossip's words usually start out with, "Now don't tell anyone I told you this, but...." The gossip digs her own grave by her incessant need to talk about others. Her grave digging abilities come from words that aren't edifying and full of love. Also, she digs a grave by alienating people. No one wants to be around her because they know that she will just stab them in the back the moment they walk away from her. She may die an early death, in part because she a lonely woman, but also because of her grave digging abilities.
Father, help us not to be grave diggers, but to be life givers. Help us to speak words that will edify and encourage. Give us words that will be a soothing oil to a wounded heart. Help us speak words that will bring healing and grace to those around us. Amen.
Grave Digging, Part 2
In today's society, you often hear the phrase 'politically correct.' Today I want to address some of those very ideas that are even permeating the church. These are ideas which God would call evil. In Prov. 17:4, we find that a wicked man listens to evil lips. There are many evil lips which speak to us today, leading us to more grave digging.
1. "Sex before marriage is OK." Or another common one we hear is, "But, we're going to be married, so it's all right to have sex." God says sex is only for those who are married. There is no 'but' clause. STD's are rampant today because of this type of thinking. This 'free love' isn't so free after all, is it? Many girls are growing up, only to discover that because of some 'free love' that has left her with a venereal disease, she is now sterile, and chances are that she will wind up having some form of uterine or cervical cancer. Her grave digging in her promiscuous years may lead her to premature death.
2. "A person is born with homosexuality." If that is true, then our God is a big, fat liar. His Word declares that He is a just God. Dan. 4:37. If homosexuality is something a person is born with, then a just God isn't going to send them to a fiery, eternal hell. I Cor. 6:9. Homosexuals have grave digging abilities that often lead them to commit suicide. The suicide rate for homosexuals is MUCH higher than it is for heterosexuals.
4. "If it feels good, do it." This belief is responsible for grave digging of numerous kinds. There are those who are gluttons. They end up with high blood pressure, obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and numerous other health conditions. This belief has also led to many people having addictions to drugs. That is a grave-digging bondage that leads to crime, just to support their habit. It then spirals to a depraved mind, leading the addicted person to kill another human being if it means helping them to find their next 'fix.'
5. "It's just a blob of tissue." This is a lie that has led to millions upon millions of abortions taking place in America, and it was all done legally! This lie has led many women to grave digging, causing them to die an early death, due to infections arising from having an abortion done. Now we even have the RU-486, which has been blamed for the death of at least one young woman.
6. "He who dies with the most toys wins." I have seen this phrase on bumper stickers, and it sickens me to see it. I have never seen a hearse with a U-Haul trailer attached to the back of it. Many people get so caught up in trying to get as many 'toys' as they can. They don't realize that they are really just digging a grave. Their persistence in working so many hours can destroy a marriage and a family. Their endless pursuit of material things can dig a grave where peace of mind can never exist because they are so far in debt.
We, as Christian ladies, must be careful that we aren't digging graves by falling into the trap of becoming wicked simply by listening to evil lips. There is a wonderful prevention for grave digging found in Psalm 1.
1. Don't walk in the counsel of the wicked. (verse 1)
2. Don't hang out with sinners. (verse 1)
3. Don't sit with mockers. (verse 2) How many mockers do we find on television? They mock God, pastors, and fathers, who are to be the head of the house. Yet, on television, the father often gets no respect. Television often mocks any parental authority. So many shows are full of children whose lives exist to make a mockery out of their parents.
4. Delight in God's law. (verse 2)
5. Meditate on God's law. (verse 2)
The results are found in verse 3.
1. You'll be like a tree planted by the water.
2. You will yield fruit.
3. You won't wither.
4. Whatever you do will prosper.
© 2003, Stacy R. Miller
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