Today’s Bible passage reminds me of an old song by the gospel group, The Imperials.
Where do you go
When you’ve come to the end of the road
Who really cares when your song is sung
When you’ve seen all you wanted to see
And become what you’ve wanted to be
And you still don’t really know where you belong
Where do you fly
When your dreams have kissed you goodbye
When your friends have gone and you are alone
When there’s no place for you to hide
No one to take your side
And you feel like the only one out on your own
You go to the place where life begins
To the love that never ends
To the One whose arms are open wide
Run on inside
You should have come sooner
You should have come sooner
I remember baptizing a man who came to the Lord in his 70s when he discovered he had lung cancer. After he met Jesus, he echoed the Imperial’s song, “Oh, I wish I had done this sooner in my life.”
We are faced with choices. We can live in the discipline of God’s direction, or we can squander our lives in the foolishness of the scoffer.
Solomon writes that the undisciplined give their years to the merciless and allow strangers to take their wealth.
At the end of their lives, they groan because they refuse to be guided by the Lord.
And you say, “Oh, how I hated discipline,
and my heart despised reproof!
I did not listen to the voice of my teachers
or incline my ear to my instructors.
Now I am at the point of utter ruin
in the public assembly.” (Proverbs 5.12-14)
You Play Like You Practice
LeBron James is currently the oldest player in the National Basketball Association. His coach recently stated, “There is no one who practices harder than LeBron.”
He is diligent in the weight room, disciplined with his nutrition, and practices more than anyone else.
LeBron James is a unique talent. His skill on the basketball court reflects his hard work to be the best in his sport.
The practice of daily working the spiritual disciplines will pay off in a victorious life.
The disciplines of prayer, Bible study, solitude with God, and surrender will be reflected in our daily experiences.
The theme of this chapter involves human intimacy. Spiritual disciplines will pay off, allowing us to give intimate love to our spouses.
Drink water from your own cistern,
flowing water from your own well.
Let your fountain be blessed,
and rejoice in the wife of your youth. (Proverbs 5.15, 18)
Going back to the song by The Imperials, some live lives of regret because they came to the Lord far later in life than they could have.
They die for lack of discipline,
and because of their great folly they are lost. (Proverbs 5.23)
On the other hand, those who come to the Lord, follow His guidance and live with Him. They experience the joy of the Lord, as well as the best life possible with other people.
That is God’s design and His will for us.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross and I discuss this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 