One Way to Live

DEVOTION
PROVERBS
ONE WAY TO LIVE
Prov 15:10
10 Stern discipline awaits him who leaves the path;
he who hates correction will die.
NIV
There is no comparison here between the righteous and the wicked. It is all about those who do not stay on the path of righteousness. Now could this mean when a child who does have a certain innocence and as far as most believe would be with Christ if they died in their youth, just because Jesus said do not suffer the little children to come to him. Could this then mean at some point in leaving childhood a choice must be made to stay on the right path? Or does this only apply to believers who are already on the path, but get distracted by the ways of the world? Do believers get catch up in the lifestyle of the world, being unfaithful to the ways of God? Do they begin to take on the same mannerism, the same desires for fame and fortune? Do they begin accept the financial principles of this world rather than of God? Do they get sidetracked in believing it is alright to behave in certain ways that are unpleasing to God, but feel good to them? But the real problem that lies within this truth is when those who do get distracted from the path of righteousness receive a stern correction from God, if they refuse to accept it and return to the center of the path, they will die. And I do not think this is talking about the physical death of the body, falling dead because of refusing correction from God. No this is speaking directly about the second death, the death of the spirit of man, the moment in time when they who refuse correction and leave the path of righteousness forever, seeking after self, and evil ways will be cast into the lake of burning sulfur and experience that second death. How more horrible an end for one who once knew the truth and refused to continue in it, then for one who never accepted the truth in the first place. Sure the end is the same, but knowing they had a place in the paradise of God and exchanged it for personal pleasure, leaving the Kingdom of God for the lair of Satan, has to be a terrible awaking when the end comes. It is far better to remain firmly within the path of righteousness, and when distracted by the ways of the world and corrected by God, even when it is a stern correction, accepting it, repenting and returning to the right way. Why would anyone not return, especially knowing the end result? Sure we all fall, sure we all stray here and there, sure we all slip from the center getting far too close to the edge at times, but accepting his correction is the only way to live.