‘...depths of the grave.’ Today's Three-minute Bible Study Print, Study and Apply Title: ‘...depths of the grave.’------------------------- Date: 1/13/2003 Keywords: "born again" "consequences" "grave" "hell" Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation. Passage: Proverbs 9:1-18* 1. Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out its seven pillars. 2. She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table. 3. She has sent out her maids, and she calls from the highest point of the city. 4. "Let all who are simple come in here!" she says to those who lack judgment. 5. "Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed. 6. Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding. 7. "Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse. 8. Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you. 9. Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning. 10. "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. 11. For through me your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. 12. If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer." 13. The woman Folly is loud; she is undisciplined and without knowledge. 14. She sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city, 15. calling out to those who pass by, who go straight on their way. 16. "Let all who are simple come in here!" she says to those who lack judgment. 17. "Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!" 18. But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of the grave. Question Do the "they" in verse 18a above seem naive, or are they just in denial about the consequences of their behavior?   Practical help It's hard to know what's meant by "depths of the grave" in verse 18 above. For porn strugglers who are born again, "grave" doesn't mean hell. Christ has reserved a place in heaven for them and all his other followers. (If you don't know whether you're born again, click here.) For Christians caught up in porn, maybe "depths of the grave" just means torment here on earth — reaping the natural and logical consequences of folly. And there are plenty of such consequences: guilt, shame, alienation from loved ones, etc. But Christians or not, porn strugglers can be in either ignorance or denial of such outcomes. "Porn ain't that bad, so any consequences will be minimal." Or: "I know smut is toxic, but I'm gonna pretend it's otherwise." Whether from ignorance or denial, the exposure to porn is devastating. So wise up, bring an end to the ignorance or denial, and avoid whatever "depths of the grave" await you if you don't. We at eXXit along with all the saints in heaven are cheering for you to stand strong! eXXit homepage Index of three-minute studies Copyright 2003 by eXXit *Scriptures are from The Holy Bible: New International Version, © Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved. --