Command 19 : Choose the Narrow Way | Day 130

Reject the Broad Road!

God knows that if we learn the details of evil we will be enticed to carry them out. This is why He warned the nation of Israel not to learn the corrupt ways of the wicked (see Leviticus 20:23); however, “[they] were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works. And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them. ... Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people” (Psalm 106:35-40).

One way we can measure our love for the Lord is by the degree to which we guard our minds from the knowledge of evil.

The human heart has always been the battleground for the war between good and evil. We will experience victory when we meditate on God's Law day and night and obey it, bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. (See Psalm 1, John 14:21, and II Corinthians 10:5.) Evil advances when Satan is allowed to plant doubts about God or His Word in our hearts and then lure us away with the short-lived pleasures of sin.

For God to rule in our hearts we must have zero tolerance for evil. Therefore, God instructs us to “abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good” (Romans 12:9). The word abhor means "to shudder with horror, to detest with horror." God also tells believers, “I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil [unmixed with wickedness]” (Romans 16:19). Not only should we abhor evil, but we should also recognize its inferiority to God's way, because “the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God" (I Corinthians 3:19).

Satan's strategy is to infiltrate God's people and diminish their effectiveness. God's way is to separate His people from the world so they can be bright witnesses.

The sober realization of the damage that comes to sons and daughters who are exposed to the details of sin should motivate fathers to guard and protect them. In addition to receiving protection, children need to be taught the principles of God's Word so that they will have a basis for discerning between good and evil. (See Psalm 119:104.)

It requires no effort to float downstream toward the destruction of a waterfall, but vigilance and God's strength are required to go against the tide that would seek to pull us and our families away from the narrow path. Because our success in life depends upon the path we choose, let's make sure we have chosen the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and let's help each other to be alert to Satan's tactics for luring us to his broad path that ends in destruction.