Are You Going the Right Way?

Free Directions Inside!

This is the message you will see on our sign if you’re driving by the Northside church building on Hogansville Road. In the past few articles, I’ve been writing about the biblical subject of going the right way. There was the article encouraging every reader to get the New Year, 2017, started off in the right direction. Then, in part one of “The Right Path,” I presented what Jesus said about the two possible choices a person may make for what “way,” or path, they will take. In part two, we looked at how those two paths are presented in the book of Proverbs. A person may choose to take the “broad way” that leads to the wide gate, through which is destruction. Proverbs refers to this as the way of folly or foolishness. Or, a person may choose to take the “difficult way” that leads to the narrow gate, through which is everlasting life. Proverbs refers to this “way” as the way of Wisdom. The way that leads to everlasting life may not be the path of least resistance (it definitely is not!), but it is the wise way to live.

As we enter a new year, I want to encourage every reader to seriously consider the path that your life is taking right now. Ask yourself, seriously and sincerely, “Are You Going the Right Way?” If not, why not? What do you need to change about your life to start going the right way? The Bible has the answers to those questions. As a minister of the gospel of Christ, it is my function to aid you in your search for guidance from God’s word. I pray that you will never hesitate to call on me, to bless me with the opportunity to study “The Way” with you.

At the church of Christ, Northside, where I preach, we are beginning the New Year with “A Prayer for the New Year” (Psalm 31) on January 1^st at 10:30 AM. I want to invite you to come and start your New Year off with this prayer for faithfulness to, and trust in, our Most High God.

The Bible makes it very clear that we cannot just “end up” in the right way by accident. It is not possible for us to just “figure it out” on our own. No, we must seek the guidance of God’s word to get headed in the right way and to stay in the right way. Notice how Proverbs responds to the idea of just “figuring it out” on our own. “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25 NKJV). My mom always told me, “If I tell you something once, it’s important. But, if I tell you twice you had better listen!” Proverbs doesn’t just say it once, but twice. We had better listen!

However, in Proverbs 15:9, we are told, ““The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, But He loves him who follows righteousness.” So, it is not the way that “seems” right to me; that is, a way that I “figure out” on my own; that will get me headed in the right “way.” It is the way of “righteousness” that will lead me in “the way” of God’s love. Where can I find that way? How do I get in the way of righteousness and stay in it? Paul said that “the righteousness of God” is revealed in the gospel of Christ (Romans 1:16, 17).

It is the gospel of Christ that is called “the Way.” Saul went out to persecute those “who were of the Way” (Acts 9:2). This same persecutor of “the Way,” was converted to Christ and became an apostle of Christ, the apostle Paul. He went from being a persecutor of “the Way” to being a preacher of “the Way” (Acts 16:17; 24:14, 22). The fact that Christianity is referred to as “the Way” has the same significance as Jesus referring to Himself as “the Way” (John 14:6). When Jesus referred to Himself as “the Way,” the significance of that definite article (“the”) was made clear when He said, “No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Jesus is the one and only “way” to be saved! His gospel is the one and only “right way.” So, I ask you to seriously consider this question again, “Are You Going the Right Way?” Free Directions Inside! Come see me or contact me. I would consider it a privilege and an honor to have the opportunity to study God’s word with you. All I desire for you is for you to know that you are going the right way.