The Right Path

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death” (Proverbs 14:12 and 16:25).

In my 14 January sermon, we spoke of this way that seems right to us as the way of taking – taking rather than giving. God is a Giver – when we display His image, we too are givers rather than takers.

Let’s now think more broadly about the image in this proverb:

You are on a lengthy walk. You come to a point where numerous paths come together. How can you choose the right one?

Jesus tells us: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

That is: “The right path is ME! Every other path has its attractions – but they all lead AWAY from the Father and thus TOWARDS death!”

Note that our Lord tells us to choose the right GOAL, and then to choose the right PATH TO REACH THE GOAL.

The right goal is the Father – our Creator, our Redeemer, who is “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty” (Exodus 34:6-7). He is the source of “every good gift and every perfect gift” (James 1:17); in the end He will wipe every tear from your eyes (Revelation 21:4) and will provide you with fullness of joy in His presence (Psalm 16:11).

Other goals tempt us. We pursue instead recognition or approval or money or accomplishment or security or friendship and joy in this life. None of those are bad in and of themselves; all can be among the good gifts that God grants. But when we choose a path because it seems to lead to one or more of these goals, we end up on the path to death.

So we must pursue the right GOAL: The Father.

That’s a necessary requirement for choosing the right path.

But many have the right goal in mind but still are on the wrong path – because they choose a path other than Jesus:

  • Some choose the path of self-improvement: “I can make myself acceptable to God! I’ll live a better life than most people!”
  • Others choose the path of appeasement: “If I sacrifice this or that, if I worship Him in this way, if I perform that ritual, then God will accept me!”
  • Others choose a path that sort of looks like Jesus but isn’t: “I made a profession of faith when I was 15;” “I attend a Bible-believing church every Sunday;” “I read my Bible daily;” “I accepted Jesus into my heart.”

Again, none of these are bad in and of themselves – many are often part of a genuine Christian life. But they cannot be THE PATH; they cannot be WHAT WE DEPEND ON.

Jesus says there is no path to the Father other than Himself. He is not ONE source of truth or ONE alternative way to pursue life. He ALONE is the source of Truth; He ALONE is the source of Life. Every other path that seems right to us leads not to Life, not to the Father, but to death and destruction.

Furthermore, note one vital difference between Jesus as the path and those alternatives that just look a bit like Jesus. The alternatives depend either on a ritual – church attendance, Bible reading – or on a past act. In contrast, when Jesus is the path, WE PUT OUR WEIGHT ON HIM EVERY STEP. That is, we are tempted, and turn quickly to Him asking for grace to help in time of need. We sin, and we seek forgiveness from the Father through Jesus. We have a decision to make – and we ask for wisdom and grace through Jesus. To be on Jesus as the path is to live a life of active dependence on Him.

So the Father is THE ONLY GOAL WORTH PURSUING. And Jesus is THE WAY. There is no other path to the Father. Every other path leads to death.

Take Jesus as the path – and thereby find the truth and the life.

Perfection and Discouragement

Jesus says, “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48).

Perfect? Like God? In this life, I’ll never be perfect. So what does that statement mean?

In Matthew 5 Jesus builds up to that statement:

  • “You are the salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13).
  • “You are the light of the world…. let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14,16).
  • “Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20).

Our Lord then gives several examples of ways the scribes and Pharisees fall short of the true meaning of the law by redefining it to be achievable by their own efforts. He then concludes with the statement about perfection. We are to be “sons of your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:45), taking on His family resemblance, showing what He is like. This is the purpose of both our creation (Isaiah 43:7) and our redemption (Ephesians 1:13-14).

But how do we live this out? How do we hold to a standard of perfection, of Christlikeness, without despairing of our ability to attain it?

The Apostle Paul helps us do this through what he writes to the believers in Thessalonica:

Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more (1 Thessalonians 4:9-10).

Paul commends them for their love – they are exhibiting the type of love that all Christians should have for one another. Yet, in instructing them to “do this more and more,” he implies that their love is not yet perfect.

We can learn how to live as imperfect people called to perfection by distinguishing among our goal, our practice, and our standing.

  • Our goal: Perfection, complete Christlikeness, loving with His love.
  • Our practice: Increasing in Christlikeness, loving more and more.
  • Our standing: Loved in Christ Jesus, accepted in Christ Jesus, forgiven in Christ Jesus.

The goal is clear: Conformity to Christ, complete sinlessness, shining with the glory of God. God promises to complete that good work in us after Jesus returns.

In the meantime, we aim for that goal, and are not satisfied with anything less. We hate the sin that obscures God’s image in us. But we praise God for ways that we are more closely taking on Jesus’ character, and strive to grow in those ways.

All the while, God accepts us fully because of the work of Jesus. He did not bring us into His family because of our works, and He does not keep us in His family because of our striving.

So do not get discouraged as you see how far short of perfection you fall. And do not redefine “perfection” to make it achievable. Instead, confident in your standing before God because of Jesus, strive for more and more love, for more and more Christlikeness, thanking Him for whatever ways you improve, asking for forgiveness through Jesus for the ways you fall short, and holding firmly to His promise that He will complete that good work in you.