Sin that entangles

Psalm 1
1:1 How blessed is the one who does not follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand in the pathway with sinners,
or sit in the assembly of scoffers!
1:2 Instead he finds pleasure in obeying the Lord’s commands;
he meditates on his commands day and night.
1:3 He is like a tree planted by flowing streams;
it yields its fruit at the proper time,
and its leaves never fall off.
He succeeds in everything he attempts.
1:4 Not so with the wicked!
Instead they are like wind-driven chaff.
1:5 For this reason the wicked cannot withstand judgment,
nor can sinners join the assembly of the godly.
1:6 Certainly the Lord guards the way of the godly,
but the way of the wicked ends in destruction.
(NET)

I noticed the progression of association with the wicked in verse 1. First it is just walking with the advice of the wicked. Then as we become accustomed to sin we begin to stand in the pathway of sinners. We more closely and deeply involve ourselves in sin. Finally we sit down in our sin and engulf ourselves. We now are completely surrounded by the sin within which we have entangled ourselves, making ourselves like chaff. We are then useless and unsubstantial. When eternity arrives will then have nothing to stand on. However, if we delight ourselves in the Lord and in meditation of His Word, He gives us meaning, growth, and eternal life. We then have His righteousness and grace that allow us to stand on the day of judgment.

Make your paths straight

Hebrews 12:13
12:13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but be healed.
(NET)

Part of that verse is quoted from

Prov 4:26
4:26 Make the path for your feet level,
so that all your ways may be established.
4:27 Do not turn to the right or to the left;
turn yourself away from evil. (NET)

How often do I not necessarily turn to evil, but I just see it coming down the road and don't get out of the way? These verses point out that avoiding evil is a proactive lifestyle. I can't assume that my relationship with Christ will grow if I am not actively feeding it. It will atrophy and decay like muscles no longer used. How then do I keep from evil.

Psalm 119:9-11
119:9 How can a young person maintain a pure life?
By guarding it according to your instructions!
119:10 With all my heart I seek you.
Do not allow me to stray from your commands!
119:11 In my heart I store up your words,
so I might not sin against you.
(NET)

Sin and Accountability

Hebrews 3:12-14
3:12 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has an evil, unbelieving heart that forsakes the living God. 3:13 But exhort one another each day, as long as it is called “Today,” that none of you may become hardened by sin’s deception. 3:14 For we have become partners with Christ, if in fact we hold our initial confidence firm until the end.
(NET)

Sin will drag me down and drown me. It will suffocate my soul until my heart turns to stone in unbelief. They way to avoid sin is to be accountable to other believers so that we can encourage each other. Then we can combat sin's deceitful lies and avoid the hardened hearts and blackened souls. Also, is it possible that we will only share in Christ's mercy if we hold fast to our faith "firm until the end"? A question debated by many theologists. Can an individual turn their back on their faith in Christ's redemptive work, returning to sin and the old creation, and forfeit eternity? Or, does such a lifestyle reveal that the person never actually believed in Christ's death, Resurrection, and return from the beginning? I am not sure yet.