Turns in the Path to Life
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
By Pastor James May
Matthew 7:13-14, "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
Amplified Version:
Mat 7:13 Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction, and many are those who are entering through it.
Mat 7:14 But the gate is narrow (contracted by pressure) and the way is straitened and compressed that leads away to life, and few are those who find it. [Deut. 30:19; Jer. 21:8.]
Every journey ends at a destination. The destination you reach will always depend upon which way you go at every crossroads, and which way you turn at every corner.
Some turns seem to lead you to dead ends
A few years ago we took the youth of our church to a “Corn Maze”. Some carried a map of the maze and were able to negotiate the maze without much trouble and to find their way out. But there were some who decided just to run into the maze blindly, not knowing the way, and just making random choices at every turn. The ran down the paths hoping to be able to brag that they found the exit first. Unfortunately, most of those passageways led to dead ends.
So it is for most people in this world. They are running wide open through life, traveling blinded to the Truth, not knowing the right way to go, and they will run right into a dead end. Everyone hopes and expects that he is on the right path, but few will truly find it.
Some turns take you down one-way streets where there is no turning back for a time
I see so many who choose to make this turn. It always begins with by seeing something down this path that seems harmless and yet will bring some temporary joy or fun into our lives. It’s those who decide to take one little trip down to the gambling casino and soon find that their one way street drives them in a gambling addiction that costs more than they can afford to pay. It’s the teenager or young adult that decides to experiment just one time with cocaine or crystal meth and then discovers that their one way street has no U turns and the path they travel is one that is nearly impossible to get away from. You name the addiction, and it always begins with a turn down that one way street.
There is only one way to Heaven. It’s a highway of holiness and pathway of righteousness. It’s a road where you walk hand-in-hand with Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to be your guide. No other one way path will work.
John 14:6, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
Some turns take you down two way streets without a neutral ground
There are many paths that you may take in life that have a neutral ground between the right path and the wrong path. If we are not careful we will get over into that neutral ground where it seems that there is a lot of “grey area”; things in life that really have nothing wrong with them but that can be used for either good or bad. It’s in these places that our choices determine which side of the highway we will travel on.
Proverbs 14:12, "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."
It may seem fine today to take a certain job that will require you to work all the time and miss church far too often. But down the road where does that lead you? Work can’t save you, money can’t buy happiness, and it certainly can’t buy salvation. What seemed so right at first can become a curse later on. We have to be careful of every choice that we make in these grey areas of life. We must have the leading of the Holy Ghost and allow God to direct our paths.
Psalms 37:23-24, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand."
Though we don’t always hear the voice of the Spirit, he is always speaking. Sometimes our own desires tend to deafen us to his voice and we may step out in the wrong direction, but rest assured that if you truly wanting to walk in the path that God has determined for you, the Spirit will not allow you to walk the wrong path for long. He will change circumstances and make you realize your mistake so you can come back to the Lord. It is God’s desire to see you make it all the way and He will never let you go without doing everything he can to bring you back.
Some turns take you down open highways where visibility of what’s coming is open
I’ve traveled a lot out in the open prairie of the western plains of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and New Mexico. When you’re on those highways you can just see forever. There’s nothing between you and the horizon except a few sagebrushes and a barbed wire fence. Nothing much surprises you. You can see what’s coming for miles ahead and you can prepare for it long before it arrives.
I’ve walked some paths in life that are like that too. It’s at those times when we tend also to get a little sleepy or lethargic in our service to the Lord and we almost get into a cruise control mode. Life is good, everyone is healthy, the bills are paid, the car is running smooth and even the kids are behaving as they should. Thank God for those open highways of life. And yet there is danger, for it is during those good times that we often slack on our prayer life and forget God days on end. I’ve been there and done that; and I can tell you that when this begins to happen in your life, get ready, because God is going to get your attention somehow and bring you back into reality.
Some turns take you into crowded streets where you can’t know what’s ahead or around the next corners.
This is probably the most common path that we travel. We make the turn down life’s highway and suddenly there are so many choices, so many paths running off in different directions, and we just can’t see what the future might hold. This is when we must learn to walk by faith. It’s not hard living for God when things are good and we can see his hand moving in our lives, but it takes real faith to weave our way through busy schedules and the hustle and bustle of life, stopping, starting, speeding up and slowing down because our path is mixed in with so many others who are going in every direction.
Is there a pitfall around the corner? Is there a wreck waiting for me somewhere? Is there a sickness that is trying to overtake me? There’s just so many questions in life that we don’t have the answer for. That’s when it really takes faith to find the path that God wants us to travel.
Isaiah 58:8, "Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward." Out of all the chaos of life; above the din of all the voices of men; over the powers of darkness that threaten to crush your faith – the voice of the Lord brings a promise – God has your back! He will bring you through.
Some turns take you into the mountains, where some are there to give you a grand view of life while others tend to be only huge obstacles that seem so much larger than life. You might feel like you’re on the edge, just about to go over the line and off the side. But somehow God always sees you though if you’ll just let Him be your guide.
Some turns take you into the valleys low where it seems you will stay forever while you cry out to God for help and deliverance. Time and circumstances happen to every one of us. It is the lowest point of our lives, in the deepest times of sorrow, times of sickness and times of depression that we learn to truly have faith. They shall pass, and the more we have faith in the Lord, the quicker they will pass and we will rise again.
The search for success in life will often force us to make turns and take paths that are hard to travel.
A retail company in Japan has taken the challenge to lead their business to new heights quite literally. Potential new hires were required to climb Mount Fuji in order to receive an interview, which was then held at the top of the mountain. It was hopeful that people who were willing to endure such a grueling environment for a job interview would be the kind of people who would be both interesting and passionate about their careers. At first there was a list of 50 willing subjects. But on the eve of the climb, besieged by high winds, rain, and numbing temperatures, only 20 people remained. Eleven made it to the dawn interviews at the top of the mountain, and four were offered jobs.
Climbing Mt. Fuji is often used as an image of various journeys in life. The steps we take from education to employment, the journey of a relationship or growth in wisdom, or the pilgrimage of life itself are all fitting experiences for this metaphor. Battling winds that are often changing, pressing forward through difficulties that weather us, like the interviewees that climbed hoping for a chance at a career, we are all climbing toward something.
Even so, there will always be climbs that won't bring us what we were looking for.
For anyone longing to move into God's presence, sin stands as an impossible barrier, a mountain we cannot cross by our own will, nor climb with devotion and sacrifice of service. Though we may persevere through life maintaining goodwill, growing in grace and wisdom, we are still separated from God. Though we may have earned the status of being a good person, we are climbing a mountain that won't give us the answer of eternal life that we sought at the bottom. Though we may reach the highest point of the journey that we can possibly reach, we will still miss the mark God has set for us. We cannot reach the heights of God, unless we go God’s Way!
Sometimes, even as Christians, we just can’t seem to make up our mind which way to go. There are just too many turns, too many choices and everyone of them seems right in its own way. I’ve seen Christians paralyzed in their walk with the Lord. Choices are given that all seem good. Shall I go to this church or another? Shall I work with kids, or get in some other ministry? Should I sing in the choir or volunteer for something else?
It’s kind of like being at a stop-light waiting for it turn green, and when it does, we don’t know which way to go, so we sit still and wait for the perfect time to move. It’s in those times that we often find Christians beginning to question God and even question their salvation. “God, if you’re there, say something. Tell me which way to go.” And all they hear is “Go”. Step out by faith. We get frustrated, angry and sometimes even act like we have lost our religion. Have you ever felt like that? I’ve seen it on the streets so many times.
Two cars were waiting at a stoplight. The light turned green, but the driver in front didn't notice it. The woman in the car behind him is watching traffic pass around them and begins pounding on her steering wheel and yelling at the man to move. The man doesn't move. The woman is going ballistic inside her car, ranting and raving at the man, pounding on her steering wheel and dash.
The light turns yellow and the woman begins to blow the car horn and screams profanity and curses at the man. The man, looks up, sees the yellow light and accelerates through the intersection just as the light turns red. The woman is beside herself now, screaming in frustration as she misses her chance to get through the intersection.
As she is still sreaming she hears a tap on her window and looks up into the barrel of a gun held by a very serious looking policeman. The policeman tells her to shut off her car while keeping both hands in sight. She complies, speechless at what is happening. After she shuts off the engine, the policeman orders her to exit her car with her hands up. She gets out of the car and he orders her to turn and place her hands on her car. She turns, places her hands on the car roof and quickly is cuffed and hustled into the patrol car. She is driven to the police station where she is fingerprinted, photographed, searched, booked and placed in a cell.
After a couple of hours, a policeman approaches the cell and opens the door for her. She is escorted to where the original officer is waiting with her personal effects. He hands her the bag containing her things, and says, “I'm really sorry for this mistake. But you see, I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing your horn and cussing a blue streak at him. Then I noticed the: “Choose Life” license plate, the “What Would Jesus Do” and “Follow Me to Sunday School” bumper stickers, and the chrome plated Christian fish emblem on the trunk.
Looking at all of that, and watching your actions, I assumed that you had stolen the car.”
Sometimes we make a turn that will lead us down the wrong path. Sometimes too, we might be on the right path, but God allows some strong obstacles to get in our way, as a way of testing and trying our faith and trust in him. Sometimes success in your walk with the Lord requires that you travel a hard road for a little while but when you break through the barrier, oh how sweet the victory and how much greater is your faith!
There was a man walking down a road. Coming to an intersection, the man encounters a guru sitting at the junction. The man asks the wise man, "Which way is success?"
The guru speaks not a word but motions to his left, the man's right and the man rushes off in the direction indicated by the sage.
Suddenly in the distance there is a loud "SPLAT." Eventually the man appears. He is stunned and staggering. Thinking he misunderstood the message, he repeats his question to the guru. Again the guru says nothing but points to his left, the man's right. Once again the man dutifully heeds the wise man's instructions and runs off in blind obedience. After all, this wise guru has all the answers.
Once the man disappears from sight, a loud "SPLAT" is heard. When the man returns he is crawling. His clothes are tattered and he is bleeding. He approaches the guru and says, "I asked you which way is success," "I followed the direction you indicated, and all I got was a splat against a rock wall! No more of this pointing! Talk to me!"
The sage finally breaks his silence and calmly replies, "Success truly is that way. You just have to get past the splat."
Finally, there is a path that is right, but only one. All trails do not lead to eternal life in Heaven with God. Most trails, in fact, will lead us to destruction.
How do you find the right path? How do you know when you’re on the right trail? There is only one way to Heaven and that way begins at the foot of the Cross of Christ. Only there is there a narrow gate and a straight path.
Scotty was only four years old and lost in Brooklyn. A police officer spotted the little guy standing on a street corner, crying. He tried to help the boy by asking him has address which he didn't know. Then his phone number which couldn't remember.
The officer was about to take him down to the police station when he thought of one final question - Little boy, is there anything near your house that I might recognize? For the first time, the child s eyes brightened. Yeah, he said. Next to my house, there's this big church, and it's got a big cross on the top. And, mister, if you can get me to the cross, I can find my way home.
So can you and me. Life is filled with choices, turns and paths going in every direction. But there is only one path that leads to Heaven. Make sure that you find it. It begins at the foot of the Cross of Christ and from there it is truly a straight and narrow path. But you can find that path if you will just let Jesus be the Lord of your life. You will not fail to reach that great destination called Heaven if you just follow the Lord and live for him to the best of your ability. Jesus has made the way; but we must choose to walk in it. He has purchased your salvation with his blood but you must choose to apply it to your heart and life. God has sent the Holy Spirit to guide you every step of the way, and he will not fail to lead you; but you must choose to follow him.
Are you making the right turns? Are you walking the right path? Today is the day that we can begin to walk the path that God has laid before us. But we must choose every minute, of every day, to stay in that path, so choose wisely. One day, when we all walk those streets of gold together, it will be worth walking in that straight and narrow path.
