Smoke And Mirrors

"My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding, that you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge. For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil, but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps follow the path to Sheol; she does not ponder the path of life; her ways wander, and she does not know it" (Proverbs 5:1-6).

Proverbs now takes up the subject of adultery. We are introduced to the "forbidden woman" who promises a good time with her smooth and sweet words. The end result of the son's involvement with such a woman, however, would be utter disaster. This is why the admonition to pay attention to wisdom's warning is repeated once again.

Illusionists sometimes use smoke and mirrors to make people think they can do amazing things like disappear and such. Our eyes tend to believe what they see and so we are amazed. Adulterous people are the same way, but instead of using smoke and mirrors, they use flattering words, seductive invitations, and empty promises. The flattery builds confidence, the seductive invitation builds anticipation of pleasure, and the promises build hope of fulfillment.

And so with confidence, anticipation of pleasure, and the promise of fulfillment, young men and women walk straight into the trap. The trap is one of death that has a bitter taste and a wounding cut. The bitter taste of wormwood and the wounds of the two-edged sword are all that adultery can and ever will deliver.

Never forget that things are not always as they appear. Consider this as you hear the seductive words of the "forbidden woman" because the dripping honey quickly turns to blood. And the blood is ours.