At the very heart of progress is the one I listen to, because that initial influence is key to the direction I choose in life. One thing leads to another, one thought leads to an action, and on and on it goes. Who I give my ear to and what thoughts I entertain will ultimately pave the way for progress in my life. How I progress, then, has everything to do with who I listen to.
Zephaniah 3:2
“She did not listen to and heed the voice [of God]; she accepted no correction or instruction; she trusted not in the Lord [nor leaned on or was confident in Him, but was confident in her own wealth]; she drew not near to her God [but to the god of Baal or Molech].”
That is a good example of the wrong kind of progression; progressing in the wrong direction! It began with a voice given ear and ended in drawing near. But because of the wrong voice the subject drew near, not to God, but to destruction.
Listen to Life, and you’ll draw near to Life. Listen to death, and you’ll draw near to death. God has a voice and the devil has one too. God’s voice sounds like His Word and is full of Life. The devil’s voice sounds like the world and is full of death. Who are you going to listen to? How will you progress?