Chossing the Right Route

Proverbs 16:25
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

Most of us Christians are familiar with that verse. When we hear it, we usually think of the unsaved. We look at the people around us and we apply it to them. They don’t want to follow God, believe in Jesus, and accept that He is the only way to get to heaven, so we apply this saying to them and them only. And yes, it does apply. If our faith is true, then all who reject the Gospel, the plan of salvation as laid out in scripture, then they will find themselves outside God’s heavenly Kingdom. They will be eternally damned and live in hell.

But if we were to be honest with ourselves, look hard at the Word of God and use it as the only standard by which we judge ourselves, we might be surprised to find out that far too often, we choose our own paths.

Last Sunday while preaching through the Book of Genesis, our pastor used a very good analogy to describe the way people navigate through life. If you know me well, you know I love analogies.

He was talking about using GPS units. The ones that are independent of your phone. Garmin and TomTom are two of the more well-known units. They stick on your dashboard and you type in a destination and then usually this woman’s voice instructs you with step by step directions. “Turn left at exit 23B.” “Take the third exit at the roundabout.” “Make a U-turn,” she says should you miss her last command. And then theoretically, she guides you to your destination in the most efficient route, getting you where you’re going.

But Pastor Micah mentioned something that many of us do as we use these devices. I used one these GPS units quite often as a repairman for AT&T, traveling the streets of the greater metropolitan St. Louis area. I almost always did this. You see, you don’t have to follow her commands to the letter. If she says to turn left at Telegraph Road, but you know the area, or think you do, better than her, then you can take a different street and she will then say this, “Recalculating.” She will then determine the new path to your destination based on the street you now are on. Sometimes I would do this because I liked the scenery better my way. Other times I wanted to stop at a specific restaurant to eat at. In other words, I simply liked my way better than hers. Even though most of the time, the computer chip in the GPS knew that its directions were shorter or faster, it was my belief that I knew the direction I was going would please me more than the lady speaking through its speaker.

That is fine for getting from point a to point b. But the truth is, most of this are doing this with God. When Jesus ascended back to heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father, He sent us His Holy Spirit to live in us and to be our guide. John 16:13 tells us that
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.” All truth. This is our Spiritual GPS unit; which God has placed within the heart of ALL believers.

But what we do is we read our Bibles, our pastors preach its truth to us, and the Holy Spirit says this is the way, and then we say “Yea, but…” Then we go the way we want and expect God to just recalculate the route our way. And then we wonder why we have trouble, sickness, and sorrow in our hearts. Sometimes we even blame God. “Why didn’t you recalculate that little change I made and then get me to my destination without the pain?” we ask God.

When we venture off the route and make a left instead of a right, because we want the pleasures on that street, be they sexual, financial, relationships or whatever, God allows us to experience the difficulty that he knew that road would bring after the pleasures of our sin had passed. The road I took to eat at Bandanas, might have at its end a traffic jam. Or maybe a tractor trailer waiting to plow me over at the next stoplight. He is trying to grow us and to teach us that he is God, He is sovereign, and He knows what is best for us.

Oh. the pain and sorrows we might have avoided had we just followed the way He set out for us as written in the Bible and confirmed by the Holy Spirit. This the cost of free will we all clamor for so loudly. The truth is that usually we use our free will to make sinful and/or poor decisions that God had already warned us of.

The good news for Christians is that God has provided a recalculated route for us in the work of Jesus and by His mercy and grace He will get us home to heaven. He made this promise in Romans 8:28, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”

But following our own way at any stage of our journey towards God is never the best option. He is the perfect GPS. Follow Him. If He says turn left, then do it.

Listen to the words of the prophet Isaiah.

Isaiah 30:1-5
 “What sorrow awaits my rebellious children,” says the LORD. “You make plans that are contrary to mine. You make alliances not directed by my Spirit, thus piling up your sins.  For without consulting me, you have gone down to Egypt for help. You have put your trust in Pharaoh’s protection. You have tried to hide in his shade.  But by trusting Pharaoh, you will be humiliated, and by depending on him, you will be disgraced.  For though his power extends to Zoan and his officials have arrived in Hanes, all who trust in him will be ashamed. He will not help you. Instead, he will disgrace you.”

This is what happens when you try and direct your own way. But listen,

Isaiah 30:18-22
 So the LORD must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the LORD is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help.  O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. He will be gracious if you ask for help. He will surely respond to the sound of your cries.  Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, he will still be with you to teach you. You will see your teacher with your own eyes.  Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.  Then you will destroy all your silver idols and your precious gold images. You will throw them out like filthy rags, saying to them, “Good riddance!”

The result?

Isaiah 30:23
Then the LORD will bless you with rain at planting time. There will be wonderful harvests and plenty of pastureland for your livestock.

When we follow our way, even turning just a little to the left or right of His way, we lose the blessings, but when we turn to Him, “He will be gracious if you ask for help. He will surely respond to the sound of your cries.  Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, he will still be with you to teach you. You will see your teacher with your own eyes.  Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.”

God isn’t recalculating anything, but He will show the way back and the only way, His.

We get to choose. His way? Or ours? Remember this, There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. Choose wisely.