There is a Way...
In the way of righteousness is life...
, by Emmanuel Higgins
The Bible is just the most amazing book! Once we start studying it, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, so many beautiful gems of truth come to light!
So let's turn in the Bible to Proverbs 16:25:
"There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."
What is this way that seems right to us? Would it be important for us to understand what this text is talking about? Yes of course, we don't want to be following a way that leads to death.
So then what is this way that seems right to you and I, but ends up going dreadfully wrong?
Let's turn again to God's word, the source of all true wisdom. In Proverbs 21:2 we read:
"Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts."
You see, naturally we all like to think that our way is the best.
For a simple example: imagine there is a very busy young person who is working on some project at home. He is deeply engrossed in the work he's doing when a brother or sister calls his name. Immediately he has a choice. Will he follow the way that seems right and natural (in his own eyes), which would be something to the effect of ignoring the caller by stating "I'm too busy to come now"? Or will he be kind and loving and run to their aid?
You can apply this principle to every area of your life, in whatever position you may hold. There is a way that seems right to a man, but what is the end of that way? The Bible says "death".
So what exactly is this way that ends in death? Why does it seem right? And how can I follow the right way in my life?
Again, the Bible gives us the answer:
In the way of righteousness [is] life; and [in] the pathway [thereof there is] no death. - Proverbs 12:28
For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things [is] death. - Romans 6:20-21
In the way of righteousness (obedience or right-doing) is life, in the pathway of righteousness is no death.
Then (in Romans 6:20-21) we see the bible describing people who were servants of sin, we read that while they were servants of sin they "were free from righteousness". In other words they were unrighteous. What would have been the end result or fruit of their unrighteousness? The verse plainly says it "the end of those things is death"
So the way that seems right but ends up a way of death is the way of unrighteousness. The way of that leads to life is the way of righteousness.
So now, let's go back and look at the last half of Proverbs 21:2.
"Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts."
We can, by doing what seems right in our own eyes, appear to look good on the outside. But the Lord knows our heart and what is truly going on inside of us.
If we understand the true condition of our heart, then we'll understand why the way of unrighteousness seems right.
In Jeremiah 17:9 the Bible says:
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
You see, we are living in a sad and tragic world of sin (or unrighteousness). By very nature sin has a corrupting and contaminating effect. When sin entered the human race the heart that once was naturally inclined to obey its creator, received the impress of sin and became naturally inclined to disobey.
This is the problem, you and I all have this natural heart that is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. It seems right in our own eyes to follow what our heart is telling us to do, rather than to follow what God asks of us. But let's not be deceived! This way is not the way that leads to life.
The good news is that it doesn't have to be like this! Jesus has provided a way so that every believing person can be saved from sin and their deceitful and wicked heart.
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? - John 11:25-26
Jesus, dear reader, is life. If we believe in His great love for us and in His mission as a saviour for our sins, indeed if we receive Him into our hearts and accept His great sacrifice as if it was just for me, then although we used to follow the ways of death we will be empowered by Him to follow the way that leads to everlasting life.
The question for you and I today is "Believest thou this" ?
Day by day, hour by hour through faith in the power and grace of Jesus, we will have a new, clean and pure heart created in us, a heart that isn't naturally inclined to sin.
May our prayer each day be:
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. - Psalms 51:10
27 Comment(s)
Could the way that "seems" right be to establish our own righteousness through our works (trying to earn our way) and thus reject the sacrifice that God gave for our salvation?
I am the way the truth and the life. no man cometh unto the father but by me.
There is none righteous no not one.
Grate insight
It's profoundly insightful and inspiring
I've been blessed Amen
When you said a person is busy working on a project and someone calls his name would he say I'm too busy or would he go to they're Aid I feel like you should have said or went on to say is going to their aid if that person would have said I'm too busy to come right now to me that would be showing selfishness which is a sin and the way of unrighteousness I would like to hear your comments on this matter make sure I'm right may God bless you all.
I was trying to understand the verse “There seemeth a way....” your article helped me. We are always battling between our own ways to find what we want not knowing the dangers but God has a way we need to find it where we will find fulfillment peace and joy.
Also when we get saved God takes the hard, cold, stony heart and replaced with a heart of flesh.
Thank you for the breakdown of the word. I must read this again as I receive this truth. God bless your word Jesus. ... Create in me a clean heart and please continue to renew the right spirit in ME!!
You all really make a difference in my life,and it going to make a difference in other life to,In JESUS NAME.FOR REAL THANK YOU ALL
I was so blessed.You explained Pro 16:25 so clearly.I incorporated your sermon into my daily devotions. Thank You and God BLESS You Abundantly
Great
Thank you. This is very helpful. It's God's way, not our way.
Am blessed by the study of this verse and it's link to other scriptures, how can it be linked with Proverbs 3:6
I so enjoyed your biblical truth, and the way you simplified your message. Thank you.
Cassandra
Ps. Please pray for my 39 year old son, (Mark Alan Mason, Jr.) who is battling alcoholism. He and his family live in Irvine, CA. But, we are from Texas. I live in Arvada, CO.
THIS WRITE-UP IS INCREDIBLY AWESOME!!
WHAT AN INSPIRING AND CHALLENGING ISSUE
AS A BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN, THE WORLD IS DEAD TO ME AND I TO THE WORLD! WE COULD HAVE DIED IN OUR SINS BUT REPENTED AND GAINED ETERNAL LIFE! WHOSE REPORT WILL YOU BELIEVE? WE SHALL BELIEVE THE REPORT OF THE LORD!
God told me this and i am doing everything in my power to do right and i see to find myself further away
All I know is ' I want him to say on that great day. Is well done' inter in the joy of the lord. And please lord don't let me miss the boat.
THIS VERSE IN PROVERBS 14:12 AND 21:2 IS WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR. I THINK IT IS AL SOME. MOST PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS PASSAGE. I LOVE IT.
thank you very much for it
Jesus wins and satan lost. Keep your heads up. Jesus Christ is coming.
Thankyou for sharing this insight & for drawing out the message of the Prov 14:12 scripture with the links to the other scripture passages
Just what I needed to hear .........Thankyou dear Saviour for your words of life.
Amen! Thank you for this!
That's right, the pleasures of this world, which many consider harmless, are leading so many to the way of destruction. Let's strive with all of God's power to wake up the sleeping youth! We should charge all to carefully count the cost of losing eternal life.
Thankyou so much for the encouraging thoughts. Truly, in this day and age, it is so sickening to see the trend amongst our fellow young people to do what they are sure is harmless, but the end of these worldly pleasures is death. May we pray that God will open our eyes to the dangers we cannot see. God bless you in writing these thoughts!