The Right Way

In 2 Peter 2:15 the apostle said that some had "forsaken the right way." We live in an age in which we are continually bom­barded with the notion that "there is no right way." This of course is based upon pure subjectivism, and lies at the base of such humanistic philosophies as "situa­tion ethics" and the like. Whatever seems right to you, we are told, is right. This is an extension of the "feel-goodism" that permeates our society. How can a thing that makes you feel good, we are asked, be wrong?

Peter wrote at the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and so what he says is not subject to human interpretation; it means what it says, and what it says is "there is a right way." In turn, and as a natural conse­quence, there must be a "wrong way!" Whether we think a thing is wrong or right doesn't have anything to do with the matter. This "right way" is determined by God and not man.

Christianity itself is sometimes referred to as "the Way" (Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23, ASV). If this way is from God, then it is surely the "right way." Before one can walk in the right way, he must have a knowledge of what it is. If one errs here, the labor of advancing in the right direc­tion will be in vain. Whatever progress is made will be in the wrong direction and will terminate in disappointment, sorrow and regret (Pro. 14:12; Matt. 7:13-14). But more than mere disappointment, such will be turned from heaven to the depths of hell. In a thing of such importance there should be no satisfaction of mind without certainty and this certainty is at­tainable. Peter says to "make your calling and election sure" (2 Pet. 1:10).

Upon learning what the "right way" is one should enter it and walk therein. Paul said some have a "form of godliness but ... deny the power thereof' (2 Tim. 3:5). It is regrettable how many there are of this persuasion. Many are familiar with the truth, but do not obey it. But simply knowing what that way is is not suffi­cient; one must do it; walk therein. Such is easily learned by studying the scrip­tures and applying them to the live. To "walk in the right way" implies that one should not turn aside to the left or to the right. Going aside is akin to going to extremes one way or the other. There are mistakes and extremes of an oppo­site description, and we must not sup­pose that in going from one side we are in no danger from the other. All ex­tremes are dangerous; many are down­right wrong. Truth and duty usually lie between extremes. One example of an extreme may be the idea of "faith only" as a means of salvation. Others may feel that cold, hard "nothing but doing" (i.e. the Pharisees) will suffice. The truth lies between the two - to be in the "right way," one must have the proper measure of faith accompanied by the proper activity involved.

Once we enter the "right way," we ought to get as many as we can to ac­company us. As Moses was leading Is­rael to Canaan he said to Hobab: "Come thou with us" (Num. 10:29). He was headed for the promised land and wanted to take others with him! Many folks may like being alone, but con­stancy of life and devotion to duty will find them inviting others to walk in "the right way" with them! To be the in­strument of saving one soul is greater than being a king (John 1 :49-50). The true child of God will not be content to travel alone in the "right way" to the home of the soul; he will say: "Come and go with us."

Then, once you have found the way, "go on your way rejoicing." That's what the Ethiopian did once he found the "right way!" You have the same course of joy open to you if you will seek the "right way," enter it and do not turn aside to the right or left or lag be­hind the Lord! - Bill Moseley

 

 

 

Ever notice how close some things are and yet so far? Or how little things can turn into big problems - if we let them? For example, it occurs to me that all you have to do is add the "d" to anger and you have danger. The potential is more than merely in spelling! Or how about this one? When people ought to be united, all of a sudden they become un­tied. You see, all you have to do is reverse the middle two letters in the word. And then there is old Satan himself - all he did was add one little word - "not" - to what God had said to Adam and Eve (comp. Gen. 2: 17 with 3:4). Yep - it doesn't take much to turn a good thing into a bad one!

And so it is with life itself, especially in our relationships with other people. It doesn't take much to alienate the other fellow. "Well, he is just to sensitive," you say. Well, yeah, maybe he is - but so what? And really what that says is that when we think like that we are oversensitive to his oversensitiveness! Do we stop to think that such alienation may not have taken place if we had just gone the "second mile?" Maybe all we had to do was say "thank you." How much effort does it take to say "I'm sorry" when we have offended another? What it takes is not really a lot of effort, but a little discarding of that thing called "pride."

Why is it that we have problems with the "little things;" little things that have a way, if left unchecked, or if we fail to do them, of turning into an avalanche of ill will that bur­ies both us and the other person? Lord help us to be aware of "little things" in life that make so much difference one way or the other!

By the way, have I told you brethren here at Taylors lately how much I appreciate you as brethren in Christ? - Bill Moseley