We are all traveling on the way of life, but we have different destinations. Some will end up in heaven and eternal life, others will end up in the lake of fire and eternal death. We all must decide which direction we will travel. There is one road that leads to heaven, and thousands of roads that lead to eternal death.
Two young men lived in Hartford, Connecticut. From early childhood they were friends, they went to the same school and played games together. When they became teenagers, one of them chose religion and went to church meetings. The other young man made fun of him, and could not understand why his friend wanted to spoil his life. Soon after, their ways separated. They had different friends and visited different places. For a long time, they knew nothing of each other. More than 20 years had passed, and the young man who accepted religion became a minister in the church. One day as he was visiting the Connecticut State Prison he met his childhood friend there, closed in a prison cell, sentenced for life. From a small beginning, he had gone deeper and deeper into sin and crime. He had thought that he had made the better choice, but when he came to the end of the road, he realized his mistake, but it was too late for him to avoid the consequences of his poor choices.
In the world there are many roads to choose from. They all look good at the beginning but have different destinations. There are roads to satisfy everyone. There are beautiful, scenic roads, wide highways, shaded country lanes, and busy business streets. There are also two kinds of travelers; some have a goal, a purpose, they are on the way to a certain place, to a certain city. They do not choose by the looks of the road, but by the road signs. They do not care if the road is wide or narrow, they want to get to their destination. Others are Sunday drivers—pleasure drivers, who go out and drive aimlessly, choosing the nicest, most appealing, and attractive road, and later return to where they started out. Those who choose a road for pleasure do not expect to arrive anywhere. But those who have a certain destination in mind choose by road signs and maps. But, are these signs always reliable?
Once I was looking for a certain address in the city, and I saw the sign pointing a certain way, but still I ended up in the wrong place. Children had turned the road sign the wrong way.
We are looking for the road map of God, which leads to heaven; this map is the Bible. We are pilgrims and travelers, and heaven is our destination.
Abraham was looking for a city, whose builder and maker was God. We are in the enemy’s land, trying to find our way to our heavenly home. From the thousands of roads, only one leads home. We cannot afford to make a mistake in the road that we choose. What kind of road leads home? In this confusing maze, many have lost their way.
When I look at old conference pictures, it hurts me to see that this brother or this sister is not with us anymore. Somewhere they took a wrong turn, and lost the way. What is the good way that many have lost?
“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. But they said, We will not walk therein.” Jeremiah 6:16
We must seek the old paths; the way to heaven has not changed. Everything else has changed. Buildings and homes have been modernized, machinery has changed, means of travel, ideas, attitudes have changed, but the way to heaven has not changed; we must ask for the old paths.
“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.” Matthew 7:13–14
The way to heaven is not an easy road, it is narrow, full of trials and self-denial, yet it is the only road that leads to the city of God, and only few find it. The other road is broad, covered with flowers, entertainment, pleasures, tinsel, and glitter, but the end of the road is death. “Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.” 1 Corinthians 12:29–31
What is this more excellent way, better than the gift of healing, speaking with tongues, or being a prophet? What is this more excellent way? Paul tells us in the next chapter.
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself useemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:1, 4–7
The way of charity, the way of love. On this way everyone loves his brothers and sisters, there is unity, peace, joy, and happiness, no jealousy, no hatred, no selfishness on this road.
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” John 14:6
Jesus is the way, the only way. The way of the cross leads home. The cross of Calvary points us in the direction to the city of God. Never lose sight of it, it is a way of humility, suffering, and death. Our loving Saviour walked on it. Are we willing to follow Him? Our Lord calls us to choose, “And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death.” Jeremiah 21:8
“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.” Deuteronomy 30:19
When the rich young man came to Jesus asking what he had to do to be saved, Jesus pointed out the way of God to him. “And, behold, one came and said unto Him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And He said unto him, Why callest thou Me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.” Matthew 19:16–17
The young man said that he has kept all these commandments, and asked, “what lack I yet?” “Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow Me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.” Matthew 19:21–22
Jesus said, “Give up your possessions, your friends, hobbies, comforts, pleasures, and follow Me.” He was asked to follow Jesus who was poor, homeless, rejected by society, and by the priests and Pharisees. This choice was difficult, and he went away sorrowful. In a few years the Roman army came and killed one million people in Jerusalem and destroyed the city. The rich young man lost everything,
Judas made a choice between Christ and 30 pieces of silver. He made a wrong choice and the next day he hanged himself.
Pilate made a wrong choice. “And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged Him, to be crucified.” Mark 15:15
History tells that soon after Pilate lost his position and spent his life suffering the torture of a guilty conscience and finally he killed himself.
Many times sinners do prosper, but when we see their end, they die eternally. “Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children. When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.” Psalm 73:12–17
Never has God’s way been proven wrong yet. When the Israelite nation o the Red Sea, they thought that God had made a mistake, that the Egyptian army was coming close to them, to destroy them. But, no, God opened the way through the Red Sea, and they escaped from
the enemy.
“As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: He is a buckler to all them that trust in Him.” 2 Samuel 22:31
“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let them return unto the LORD, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:7–9
God’s ways are higher than our own ways, as the heaven is higher than the earth. If we follow our own way, we will be lost. God’s way is the only perfect way. Our health reform is part of the way of God, if we follow it, we will enjoy better health.
The way of selfishness begins at the sandbox with children fighting over a toy, and it continues throughout the rest of their lives. They are always seeking better positions. This is the way of covetousness and there is no happiness in it. Judas chose this way; 30 pieces of silver was more precious to him than Jesus. “And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives. So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.” Proverbs 1:18–19
The way of lust and pleasure is a sinful lust. “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” 1 John 2:16–17
This includes lust of the eyes. Seeing movies of violence and crime, and also reading books of vanity will change our characters into the same image. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image.”
Another way of death is pride of life. Human pride, loving luxuries, comforts, being better than others, to be famous, and be praised, will separate us from our humble and lowly Saviour.
The way of liberty, “I can do what I want,” with no restrictions makes us servants of sin and corruption. It is not liberty when you cannot control yourself, when your sins and bad habits are stronger than you. You may regret and be sorry for what you do, but cannot help it. Only Christ can make us free.
“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
What more can I say to convince you all to choose the way of God? It is possible to claim to be a Christian and follow our own way. We can be members of the church and choose a wrong path. Do not trust your friends, teachers, leaders; your best friend can lead you down a wrong path. This world is full of deceptions; in religion, business, and politics there is only one reliable guide, and that is the word of God, the Bible.
We all must learn to know God; He is not a stern judge, ready to condemn. He is not a tyrant, but a loving Father, who pities His children; He is willing to help, and He is not hard of hearing.
“And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” Isaiah 65:24
Of all the roads, the way of God is still the best. It may be narrow, thorny, full of self-denial, a way of trials and suffering, but yet at the same time it is a way of peace, and joy, a way of a good conscience, and it leads home.
There is an end to every road. When you pass a cemetery, and see all the crosses and stones, they all had come to the end of their way. Of how little importance it is now if under the stone or cross lays a person who was rich or if he was poor, or if he was famous or little known. The only important thing is if his name is written in the book of life in heaven. Are the angels watching his dust, ready to bring him out at the coming of Jesus, or will he continue to sleep to the end of the 1,000 years? It is too late for him to change now.
My friend, today we can still choose, but soon it will be too late for everyone. Jesus is coming soon, and all who have chosen the narrow thorny path, who have been sowing in tears shall reap in rejoicing, and all will change their crosses to crowns of glory.
All who decide to follow the humble, lowly Nazarene, and given up the joys and pleasures of the world, will spend eternity with Jesus, His angels, and with the redeemed host. When we come to the end of the road, I will be looking for you, my friend, hoping that by the grace of God, we have both made the right choice of the roads, and we will end up in the same destination. Amen.
Timo Martin