Let’s say we are in Atlanta, and we make a decision that we want to go to Miami. So, we pack all of our bags, fill the car with gas, and tell all of our friends and neighbors, “I’m going to Miami!”. Then, we get on Interstate 75 and head north. We will end up in Canada somewhere, not Miami. Because no matter how much we planned to, intended to, or dreamed to end up in Miami, if we head down the wrong road – we’re not going to make it to the right destination.
The same is true with our Christian life. We can plan to be a good Christian, to follow God, to obey Him and have fellowship with Him. However, if we head the wrong way, if we make wrong choices, we’re not going to end up with a life that is abiding in Him and is pleasing to Him. Every day we make decisions. “Do I read my Bible and pray, or am I just too busy to mess with that right now?”, “Do I participate in things that are obviously not pleasing to God just to have a “good time”?, “Do I follow the crowd, just to be popular and have more friends?”, or, “Do I make right decisions no matter what they may “cost” me?”.
I read a story one time about a guy who was a senior in high school, and his family had just moved to a new town. He wanted to find new friends and have a good time, so when some neighborhood young men invited him along for a “drive” and some “fun”. A neighbor had warned him that there were some “bad” kids in the area, and at first, he was a little hesitant, but then he thought, “Sure…why not? What harm could it do? I just want to have a good time”. Well, the car with 4 other guys in it stopped in front of a store, and 3 of the guys told him to just wait there with the driver while they ran in and got some stuff. A few moments later, he heard a loud noise, and then the guys came running out laughing and jumped in the car and the driver took off. It wasn’t long before he heard police sirens behind them and they were soon all stretched out on the ground being handcuffed. That young man spent 5 years in prison for being an accomplice to robbery and murder all because he made the wrong choice.
Every decision we make in this life affects our future. We too often think it doesn’t matter what we do now, we can always “change” later, or get our life back on track eventually right? However, we have no guarantee of tomorrow. Proverbs 1:10 -16 warns us, “My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us ambush the innocent without cause; Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, Even whole, as those who go down to the pit; We will find all kinds of precious wealth, We will fill our houses with spoil; Throw in your lot with us, We shall all have one purse,” My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path, For their feet run to evil And they hasten to shed blood.”
Stay OFF the path that leads the wrong way! Don’t even “test” it or “try” it, it DOESN’T end where you want it to end.
Proverbs 4:14 – 19 again warns us, “Do not enter the path of the wicked And do not proceed in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not pass by it; Turn away from it and pass on. For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; And they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble. For they eat the bread of wickedness And drink the wine of violence. But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until the full day. The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know over what they stumble.”
The Psalmist wrote in Psalm 16:11, “You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.” The path we must follow in life is to know Jesus Christ and to strive to live each day as pleasing to Him. Only THEN can we truly end up our lives in the right destination.
The path following Jesus isn’t always “fun” in the world’s eyes, but it’s the SAFE path, and the ONLY path that is guaranteed to end at the right destination.
Solomon continues Proverbs 4 with these words, “My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your sight; Keep them in the midst of your heart. For they are life to those who find them And health to all their body. Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth And put devious speech far from you. Let your eyes look directly ahead And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. Watch the path of your feet And all your ways will be established. Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil.” (Prov. 4:20-26).
He warns, “Pay attention to what I’m telling you!” Stay away from the path that leads to destruction!! Keep your eyes on Jesus and follow the path HE wants you to follow. Watch what you do with your life – EVERY DAY!! If we follow His path, we’ve got NOTHING to worry about, we’ll end at the right destination, and the journey there will be blessed by His presence in our lives.
What path are you headed down today? Do you need to change paths? It’s better to do it now than to wait until it’s too late and you end up at the wrong destination!