The Path Less Chosen

Have you ever gone for a walk in the woods completely unfamiliar with the terrain, but at the same time confident of your sense of direction? I went for a walk like this one time and as I walked the unfamiliar hills and woods I followed many twists, turns, and decisions on which way to go.

At one point I was confident I was going in the right direction. Besides, there was a river nearby and how could I be wrong? But I was not correct and in fact, I was going the wrong way. The land with all its hills, valleys, curves, with the turning and twisting river, seemed to make sense to my sense of direction. In my mind, the river went out and around the land like a peninsula.

I had never seen this part of the woods before, so I went out confidently to see and explore this new place. But then I didn’t find what I expected, I found myself where I started. The river was straight and my path was crooked. I was wrong! You can imagine my surprise when I ended up in the same place I began. I have an excellent sense of direction. After all, I had once found my way back to my truck in the pitch-black night without a flashlight on several occasions. But this just goes to show that what we think to be true is not always fact.

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advise. Proverbs 12:15

How about you, in your life? Where are you going? Do you think that your way is right? Or are you going in a circle? Do you find yourself back where you started, doing the same wrong things? If you could humor me for a few minutes test yourself to see if you have been going the right way in life.

How many times have you lied? Have you stolen anything that wasn’t yours? Do you know that makes you a lying thief? Is that the right thing to do? Have you ever hated anyone or lusted after someone? Jesus said if you hate someone, you have committed murder in your heart already, and if you lust after someone, you have already committed adultery. If you are guilty of these things, are they leading you down the right road?

The answer is, no. These things you are doing, God calls sin. He has commanded all men to follow His Law. As well as He has written them on the hearts of all mankind. There is no avoiding the truth that lying, stealing, adultery, and murder are wrong. When you do these things, you are breaking His Law and sinning against God.

“For all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23.

Someday you will die and you will have to face God on Judgement Day, He is the Supreme Judge. You have broken His Law and He will judge you by His Law the Ten Commandments. You will have to pay for all the sins you have committed.

It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, Hebrews 9:27

The truth is you will be found guilty. Do you know this? But He is gracious, merciful, and patient with you. He has allowed you to remain alive so that you might read this message and turn from your sin. He has provided a way to be forgiven.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace, you have been saved Ephesians 2:4-5

Jesus came as a man who was God in human form 2000 years ago. He came and died for your sins to take the punishment that you and I deserve. To take the complete Wrath of God, the punishment you deserve for all your life full of sins. To save you from an eternity of suffering in Hell.

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form,

He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:5-8

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

Now He offers you the forgiveness of your sins. But you need to confess and repent of your sins to Him. Turning away from your life of sin and follow His path, His way. Stop running around in a circle, going back to your sin over and over again. Because true repentance means true change. Only Jesus can change the heart, mind, and soul.

And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ (Jesus) would suffer, He thus fulfilled. 

Repent, therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, Acts 3:17-20

Trust in Him, trust in Jesus for your salvation. He is your only chance to walk the straight and narrow path that leads to Heaven. The only way that you will receive the forgiveness of sins, is not through religion, not good deeds, and not by following some other spiritual leader. Jesus. Pick up that Bible today. Start reading in the Book of John. If you don’t have one, download a free Bible app.

But whatever you do, cry out to God to save you. Cry out to Him to open your eyes to the truth of His Word that He may change you from the inside out. Ask for Him to show you the right path. How long will He be gracious to you and allow you to continue in your crooked ways? Will He give you years, months, days, or hours? You don’t know what tomorrow will hold. You may be walking toward a cliff in the dark.