A Serious Mistake

December 4, 2018

Good Morning Fellow Travelers,

Read: Proverbs 16:1-25


“The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.” Proverbs 16:17


“There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” We might be inclined to believe that verse 25 would be referring to the way of the unbelieving sinner. But usually self-satisfied sinners are not concerned about the way in which they walk. I believe it refers more to someone who believes they are on the right way, but are deceived.

There is a way that seems right. Why would a way seem right when it is not right? Are there things about this way that show us it is wrong? Is it possible we are deluded?

Let’s think about some things that would help us avoid a way that only seems right.

A way would seem right if many walked there. Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:13 that there is a broad way that leads to destruction, and many walk there. He compares this to the narrow way that leads to life, and few find it. This is possibly the most important reason why multitudes go blindly on in a wrong way. They say, when questioned, “Everyone else is doing it.” Have you ever heard that? This is a fatal delusion.

A way seems right when it is attractive. It appears to be the easy way, the way of least resistance. Ways that offer the flesh its freedom are the ways to destruction of the soul. They at first appear attractive, but the end is spiritual death. If no danger is apparent, we often refuse to believe we are approaching one. Caution is thrown to the wind.

A way may seem right because our conscience is perverted. A conscience informed and ruled by God is a safe guide. But a conscience warped by prejudice and weakened by disuse is not reliable. It cannot make good moral judgments.

What is the way to avoid being on a way that only seems right?

We must know the truth. We must know the Lord Jesus. He is the way, the truth, and the life. We must know the Word of God, the Bible. Let’s not remain on a way that seems right, but ends in eternal death, when there is a way that leads to life.

– James Baer