Going the Right Way in Life

The following was a message I delivered at the halftime devotion for Upwards at Grace Brethren Church in Ashland

Good afternoon. My name is Matt Timmons and I am a pastor here in town. And I want to talk to you this afternoon about “going the right way in life.” There is a verse in the Bible, it’s from the book of Proverbs, and it goes like this: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”

A number of years ago there were a group of young adults who set out on a road trip. I’m not sure if they had any real destination or not, but they were out on the open road. At one point they were found driving along a road in Mexico. You know how it is, there’s excitement of hitting the highway and going Lord knows where. There’s a sense of freedom and exhilaration. Now these guys were traveling along—and I’m sure that they were slightly inebriated. I don’t doubt that they had had a few drinks. But they were traveling along feeling good about themselves and about life in general.

But as they were caught up in the thrill of their little joy ride, what they missed was a sign that said, “Road closed.” Someone in the car might have seen it, we don’t know for sure, but if they did, they didn’t pay much attention to it. Everything seemed just hunky dory to them; it was a beautiful day and they were having a grand old time. But that didn’t last for very long. For it wasn’t long before that stretch of road ran out. Since they were going so fast and not paying close attention, the driver didn’t have time to react. The car ended up plunging over the side of a steep bank. The passengers inside went over that little cliff to their demise.

You know that incident reminds me a lot of what this verse in the Bible tells us. There are a lot of people are coasting through life. They are going along without any sense of real direction. Their lives are pretty much a joy ride and they are going along doing whatever feels right to them. But like those kids in that car, they are heading down the road that leads to destruction. They have a rendez-vous with death because they have not gone the right way in life—but only the way that seems right to them.

Now I think that this verse is a great verse for people who live in Ashland. Because we have a lot of people in Ashland who are your run of the mill ‘good people.’ You know what I mean, they are not ax murderers or your stereotypical drunk who beats his wife. Most of the people here in Ashland lead relatively quiet lives. Most likely, you are one of those people. You’re just going about your business. You are not getting in anyone’s way, and you’re doing your best to get by and do the right thing.

But that’s just the thing. You are only doing what seems right to you. You may think you are doing just fine, but you are not. That’s because you are not listening to God. Since you have not made the Bible your compass in life, and since Christ isn’t directing how you think and how you act, you’re basically your own guide.

And you might think that you are a pretty good guide. Or you might be thinking that you are in no real trouble in life. But I’m here to tell you that’s not true. I’m like that sign that those kids ignored. I’m standing here to tell you that you are not going the right direction in life. And you need to listen to me because I’m trying to protect you. I’m trying to point you in the right way.
And the right way is through Jesus.

In the Bible Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me.” In other words, if you want to get to heaven, then you need to embrace Christ and make it your aim in life to follow him. Because he and he alone is the way that leads to life.

What you need to do is stop doing down the road you are on. You need to turn to Jesus Christ. You need to say, “Jesus, I’m sorry that I haven’t been listening to you. I’m sorry that I have been going my own way in life. I want to go the right way now. I want you to direct me on how I am supposed to life.”

And I want to assure you: if you do that. If you stop going down the way you think is right and start going down the way that is right. You won’t have to worry about death. You’ll be on the right track. You will be going the right way, Because Jesus is the way that leads to full and abundant life.

Will you pray with me?

God, thank you for putting road signs in our lives and warning us about going the wrong way in life. Thank you for telling us that there is a way that seems right and a way that is right. I pray that all here might listen to this road sign and go to Christ today—that they might find the eternal life that comes through him.