Tuesday, January 13, 2009

January 14

Jan 14 - -Today from Proverbs 14 we look at verse 12

"There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death."

In John 14:6 Jesus boldly says, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." The principle of this verse and of Proverbs 14:12 are quite obvious from the point of evangelism - that of proclaiming the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. There's no wiggle room. There it is; it's Jesus or death. The Living Word totally disarms the postmodern feel good mantra of 'Many paths to one God'.
But is there a sound principle contained in these two passages for the believer? For one who has already accepted the gospel and professes Jesus as Lord and Savior? Oh, most definitely. We ask ourselves, "Can a believer be deceived?" If the answer is yes, then one must seek to guard against deception. There lies the principle of these passages for the believer. Let's use the analogy of a narrow road for truth. Not so narrow that we would quickly lose our balance while navigating it, but narrow enough that we must pay close attention in our journey upon it. On either side of this road is a ditch. If one fears the ditch on the right, the ditch on the left becomes the greater threat, and vice versa. That is the ploy of deception.
The character of the ditches is not static. They can vary greatly. For example, the most popular character for these ditches in the Christian realm would be that of 'legalism' and 'tolerance'. One ditch says that unless you keep some list of legal rules, you can't be a very good Christian, and an angry God will punish you. The only shadow of grace in this ditch is the cross, but even that is obscured by the tall weeds of austere judgment against any form of sin (found on any particular 'list' of the legalist). The other ditch is tolerance, or that which I refer to as the ditch of 'sloppy agape'. It is a love that is so loose and void of God's justice that almost anything goes. The tenants of this ditch don't want to hurt feelings or offend. "Let's all just love each other and get along." In this ditch God's order and justice are obscured. Those who end up in either ditch are unaware that they are even stuck in a ditch. They are deceived into thinking they are on the road of truth.
Jesus says, "I am the way and the truth and the life." When we study His life and His teaching we find that He was neither legalistic nor was he tolerant to a fault. In fact, you will discover that He couldn't tolerate legalists! When we end up in a ditch, we become separated from the fullness of relationship that God desires with us. And we separate ourselves from those who remain on the road of truth. That's what death is - separation.
A few years back there was the rage of 'What Would Jesus Do' (WWJD) bracelets. It was popular and faddish to wear them, but it seems that few who wore them really disciplined themselves to study and learn what Jesus really would do. Most just continued in the way that seemed right to them. Some believed that Jesus would condemn the ‘wicked’ (the homosexuals, the abortionists, those who drink and smoke. . .whatever). So, they did too. Some believed that Jesus just loved everybody so much that He would accept them anyway and He died for my sins so what's the big deal. So, they did nothing.
What did Jesus do? He didn't condemn sinners; He showed them the way to the Father. He didn't tolerate sin, He forgave and said, "Now go and sin no more." He didn't subjugate but became a servant and blessed those who misunderstood and persecuted Him. He didn't leave the world like He found it. He changed it with the truth. He calls us to be agents of change as well. We are empowered to be His witnesses, and to usher in the presence of His kingdom through Godly example, through servanthood, and through worship in spirit and in truth.
Beware saints. There's death in the ditches. Keep your relationship with Jesus a priority, and you will find that your journey on the road of truth is not all that difficult.

1 comment:

kc bob said...

Good thoughts Ken! Caused me to think of a time when God reminded me that the road is a narrow one but not a tightrope.