God warns us against sin to protect us

"Don't let your hearts stray away toward her. Don't wander down her wayward path."

- Proverbs 7:25 (NLT)

We were sitting at the kitchen table having a family discussion. My grandson showed signs of boredom when he began wiggling in his chair and looking around the room.

My husband was in the middle of a sentence when, all of a sudden, my grandson jumped out of his chair and headed toward something that caught his eye.

As he crouched to the floor, to reach the small contraption tucked between the stove and the wall, my husband screamed, " No!"

But my grandson ignored the warning. He grasped the object in the palm of his hand and it went off with a loud snap! Immediately he dropped it and jumped back, wide-eyed and shaken by the incident.

Fortunately, his small hand was unharmed by the mousetrap.

We are so much like that precious, inquisitive child when it comes to the investigation of sin.

Proverbs, a text in the Bible, was written by the wise King Solomon to warn his son of the evil trappings of sin. The king was aware of the fact that man's eyesight, in combination with his vivid imagination, stir his desire to touch and taste things that are tempting him - just as my grandson had to touch that mousetrap.

This loving father informed his son that the wisdom revealed in this text would give him instruction in handling life's issues and provide protection from the harmful consequences of ignorance.

God promises us benefits if we close the door to sin in our life. The greatest benefit is that we can spare ourselves the painful consequences by using wisdom.

By refusing to follow unhealthy desires and making wise choices, we can move toward an abundant life.

• Annettee Budzban is a Christian author, inspirational speaker, life coach and nurse. She can be contacted at AnnetteeBudzba@aol.com.