Heat | Wayfarer

Can a man scoop a flame into his lap
and not have his clothes catch on fire?
Can he walk on hot coals
and not blister his feet?
Proverbs 6:27-28 (NLT)

I still have a vivid memory of our daughter Madison reaching for a red hot burner when she was only a few years old. Fortunately, I reached her before her little mits fell on the searing coil. It was the classic scenario of teaching a child to keep away from that which will burn her. She learned the lesson, as most of us do. But, this nearly universal childhood lesson becomes an apt word picture for other life dangers.

Solomon uses the word picture as he asks the poignant questions above in addressing the topic of adultery. Along my journey, however, I’ve found that the same questions can be asked of any illicit behavior that results from indulging the sexual appetite. So I’d like to broaden the topic this morning from simple adultery to things like lustful thoughts, pornography (romance novels and erotica can prove just as spiritually deadly as hard core internet porn, by the way), extramarital flirtations, prostitution, and etc.

Please understand that I am not going on some puritanical, Focus on the Family rant. This is actually a very simple spiritual principle and it’s intensely personal. My life bears the scars from these flames and I write that which I know from personal experience. So listen up, my friend and hear me when I say: If you play games with the dangerous flames of sexual appetites you’ll eventually get burned. It might not happen right away. Like a drug, the aphrodisiac of sexual lust offers a potent high for seemingly little risk. At least, it seems that way at the beginning. But once you start chasing that high and the flames intensify you will not escape without getting burned.

At best your own spiritual life will be slowly reduced to the ashes of a desperate loop of guilt, shame and despair while you struggle to hold together and maintain a spit-polished facade for the rest of the world. At worst, you will burn down your house and scorch your loved ones with you.

Avoid the flames. Learn to control your sexual appetite. If you’re in the midst of the fire and your life is burning down around you then run for help today. It’s not too late. God is a God of grace, forgiveness and redemption who offers springs of living water in exchange for the destructive flames. It may not be easy, but it will be good.

Heart of Mine (tomvanderwell.wordpress.com)
Taken in adultery (jessicahof.wordpress.com)
Adultery. The Silent Killer. (myviewandopinion.wordpress.com)
Wisdom’s Whisper (tomvanderwell.wordpress.com)

The sun rises at one end of the heavens
and follows its course to the other end.
Nothing can hide from its heat.
Psalm 19:6 (NLT)

There days on this chapter-a-day journey that a verse will jump off the page at me because it seems so apt for the moment. It may or may not have any deeply spiritual meaning, it is just so true for the day, or the hour, or the season in which I find myself.

So it was with the verse above. As I sit to write this post in the summer of 2012 we have been suffering through record high temperatures and serious drought conditions. Nothing and no one can hide from the sun’s intense heat. Last night, Wendy and I braved the heat and headed out to the ball game at Principal Park. From our seats behind home plate we watched the setting sun glaring off the gold dome and windows of the gorgeous Iowa State Capitol Building.

It’s hot and dry and uncomfortable. But this season too, shall pass. It’s part of the natural order of the seasons that God, the Creator, put into motion. So, I dressed cool. I ordered another cold beverage. I enjoyed the great summer pastime as the I-Cubs won a pitchers’ duel against the visitors in extra-innings. It wasn’t the most comfortable evening we’ve spent overlooking Sec Taylor Field, but I honestly don’t have a complaint.

Today I’m reminded to make the most of this day and this season, no matter where it finds me on the journey.