The Way That Seems Right
There is a way that seems right, but is it? Just because a door of opportunity opens for you does not mean that it is the door for you at this time. How can you know if the way you need to go is right or not?
The First Path
It may seem there are many paths to follow in life. As a Christian, we only have two choices. One choice is the path of righteousness. The second is the path of unrighteousness. The first path, the path of righteousness, leads to peace of mind, harmony, happiness, serenity, contentment, and fullness. Living in the path of righteousness causes us to walk in blessings.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Psalms 23:3
The second path
The second path will lead to anything but the above. Isaiah said, you 'shall not know peace'. (Isaiah 59:8). Quite the opposite is true. Without peace, you live a life of turmoil, worry, fear, disagreement, discord, and despair. Oh, yes, there are many more words I could use to describe a life without God's peace. The way of the world, the way that seems right to us, the way we deem best because of the 'lust of our flesh' or our desire for things that are not good for us will not produce a good and peaceful life.
"The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace." Isaiah 59:8 "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Proverbs 14:12
Creation
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. He created everything in it from the birds in the air to the microscopic life and the largest of fish in depths of the ocean. He filled the earth with His glorious and spectacular creations. Then He created man in His own image.
"Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:" Isaiah 42:5
Free Will
He gave man wisdom to rule the earth. To have dominion over it and all that was in it. Although He gave them wisdom, He still gave them free will, a choice. Walk with Me or walk away. Sadly, man chose to stop walking in the path God set before him. Ever since man ate from that forbidden fruit we have walked in a path of unrighteousness. God restored man's right standing or 'righteousness' with Himself through His Son Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
Some ancients walked in the ways of God. Enoch was one of them. He walked with God and was taken into heaven without dying. We can gain wisdom from the ancient.
God said, "...I appointed the ancient people..." Isaiah 44:7
"With the ancient is wisdom..." Job 12:12
The Righteous Path
He appointed the ancient people to walk the path of righteousness. The path that was right for them, the one that would lead them to the best life possible. He wants us to walk with Him as the ancient people did. All we need to do to walk in that path of righteousness is to ask Him to show us the way.
"That the LORD thy God may shew us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do." Jeremiah 42:3 To say to Him, "Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths." Psalms 25:4 "In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:6 "...He will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths..." Isaiah 2:3
"Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls..." Jeremiah 6:16
The Lord's reply will always be found in His Word. He said He taught and led the ancient ones, and He will do the same for us. He is the same as He was then. He does not change. He is and was and always will be. His paths are mercy and truth. He even said He would put His Spirit within us and cause us to walk in his statutes or His way for us. When we do walk in the 'law of the LORD, we are blessed. We are not defined by the world or the flesh when we keep His judgments and His commandments.
"I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths." Proverbs 4:11 "That thou mayest walk in the way of good men and keep the paths of the righteous." Proverbs 2:20 "All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies." Psalms 25:10 "I am the LORD your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them;" Ezekiel 20:19 "I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them." Ezekiel 36:27 "Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD." Psalms 119:1
We have a choice.
We have a choice. Walk the right path, the ancient or old way, and be blessed and live in peace, or walk according to the way it seems right, the way of the world, and miss out on the multitude of blessings and the peace that passes all understanding. I hope we all choose to follow the ancient paths and walk in peace.
"Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD." Psalms 119:1
Choose carefully which path you follow.
Cindy Hyde, MA
2018
King James Bible. (2017). King James Bible Online. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/ (Original work published 1769)
