The other day I took my son to the dentist and as I was driving, I suddenly realized we were going in the wrong direction. If we had kept going on the road we were on, we would have been late. So, I turned around and headed for the right road. Now that was driving, so it was an easy fix, maybe five minutes extra, unless I did not turn around. One time while at the Pinery Provincial Park, I was walking on a trail I had never been on. I thought I could follow this one trail and it would connect to the trail I was looking for on the map. When I realized that this trail was not going to connect, I was a long way from where I should have been. I had to turn around and walk back to the point I knew would connect. Instead of five minutes, it was about 40 minutes of extra walking.
There were no ill effects from driving on the wrong road as we were not late, and the extra walking was just exercise. I have seen videos where people had to be rescued because the GPS took them down a road to nowhere and they ran out of gas or got stuck. This happened in places where there was danger if someone had not rescued them. We can be driving or walking, and it feels that the way we are going is okay, the GPS even said it was, but then all of a sudden you realize that you are heading in the wrong direction or cannot get to your desired destination point if you continue. Until you realize you are heading in the wrong direction, it feels right.
Many people are on a spiritual journey that feels right to them. They make a connection with a church and follow what they teach to the best of their abilities. They are told, this is truth, and you will spend eternity with Jesus if you follow our doctrines. But this is not always the case. Jesus said, John 14:6 “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This means there is only one way. This is not only talking about Christianity verses the other gods, but this also means that inside the church, there is only one way. Ephesians 4:4 “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” We know for a fact that is not happening. You may be a Catholic or Baptist or Pentecostal etc. and think all is well with your soul and think I am on the right path. But since Jesus said there is only one way, truth, and life, it is impossible to have many ways to God in the church, so that means, Proverbs 16:25 “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end, it leads to death.” Then the only option is to repent and turn around. Ephesians 18:30 “Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. 31 Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel? 32 For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!”
There are two voices calling out to us; God who is turning us from satan and satan who is trying to turn us away from God. Proverbs 9:1 “Wisdom has built her house; she has set up its seven pillars. 2 She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table. 3 She has sent out her servants, and she calls from the highest point of the city, 4 “Let all who are simple come to my house!” To those who have no sense she says, 5 “Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed. 6 Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight.” Then you have this other voice who is also calling out and with a similar voice but is definitely not the same. 13 “Folly is an unruly woman; she is simple and knows nothing. 14 She sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city, 15 calling out to those who pass by, who go straight on their way, 16 “Let all who are simple come to my house!” To those who have no sense she says, 17 “Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!” 18 But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.” You then have to ask Proverbs 1:22 “How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?” and know that Proverbs 1:32 “the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them. 33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.” Proverbs 2:3 “indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, 4 and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.”
When Ezekiel was preaching about repenting, the people did not like God’s way. Ezekiel 18:25 “The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear, you Israelites: Is my way unjust? Is it not your ways that are unjust?” Hosea said Hosea 14:9 “Who is wise? Let them realize these things. Who is discerning? Let them understand. The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.” If a person refuses to walk in God’s way, they are filled with pride and arrogance and follow the voice of satan and not God. We are told Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 6:16 “There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, 19 a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.”
Pride and arrogance come from satan. Peter tells us, 1 Peter 5:5 “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” King Nebuchadnezzar was really proud of all his accomplishments, even after Daniel had told him what his dream was about. Daniel 4:29 “Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” 31 Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. 32 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.” 33 Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled.” But then he came to his senses. Daniel 4:34 “At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. 35 All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have you done?” 36 At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.”
There is also the account of the son who left his father to go down a path he thought was right until it wasn’t. Luke 15:17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.” All throughout scripture we see God’s people refusing to listen to His word and come to their senses. But there were also those who did not and refused to listen. Scripture shows us very clearly what the straight and narrow way looks like, but the church decided to go their own way and were deceived and deluded into believing that the powerless and crooked path they had chosen to follow was the path of righteousness, but instead it led to desolation and death. The church rejected wisdom and chose their own path and ignored that Proverbs 2:16 “Wisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman, from the wayward woman with her seductive words, 17 who has left the partner of her youth and ignored the covenant she made before God. 18 Surely her house leads down to death and her paths to the spirits of the dead. 19 None who go to her return or attain the paths of life.” We must be on the right path. Proverbs 12:8 “In the way of righteousness there is life; along that path is immortality.”
When we turn back to God’s word, He will guide us on the right path. Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” We also have to remember that God’s straight paths don’t always appear straight to us but they are. Isaiah 30:19 “People of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. 20 Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. 21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 35:8 “And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it. 9 No lion will be there, nor any ravenous beast; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, 10 and those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.”
