Man's way vs. God's way

Proverbs 14:12
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.

In a world full of rules and regulations, how does a person determine which way is the best way?  Which set of rules is the best set of rules to follow?  Which set of rules will give me life; which set of rules leads to certain death?

Christian religion will have you believe that following God’s laws will give you life and that a failure to follow His laws will lead to death.  If this is true, God’s purpose for giving the law would have had to have been to justify mankind.  But that’s not correct; that’s not why He gave the law.  The Bible is clear: the law was given so that sin would increase (Romans 5:20); it was given to show mankind their need for a Savior (Galatians 3:24).

Laws, whether God’s or man’s, are always open to interpretation.  God’s laws have been interpreted over the years a number of different ways.  Christian churches have been arguing against each other about the interpretation of God’s laws for years.  One church says the Bible says, “X” while another denomination says the Bible says, “Y”.  Either one could be right or wrong.  Which one do you follow?

I’m not saying that God’s laws are wrong in any way, shape, or form.  I’m not saying that they are invalid in any way.  I’m not saying that they don’t give us some pretty firm guidelines for living.  What I am saying is that laws are not the way that leads to life.  In fact, they lead to death.  Reading the Bible will show you this fact.  Anyone who violates any one of God’s laws is guilty of them all and the penalty is always death.

What seems right to man, following rules to be justified and knowing how to determine good and evil, is a way to certain death.  You can trace this Proverb all the way back to the fall of Adam in the garden.  What seemed right to him and Eve was actually a way to certain death.

Knowledge of good and evil brings about death.  But this is man’s way.  If we can know what is right we’ll be able to tell others how to live right.  To quote Dr. Phil, “How’s that working out for ya?”

No, the truth is that the law, our way, is the way to certain death.  But God’s Way, that is, Jesus Christ, is the Way to abundant life.  Looking to Jesus isn’t man’s way, it’s God’s way.  When God judges you today, He looks to Jesus for your righteousness.  He looks to Jesus for your redemption.  He looks to Jesus for your salvation.  

Man’s way is to know good and evil; our way leads to death.  God’s way is to know Jesus; only His way leads to life.  Let’s not take the way that seems right; let’s take the way that is right.  Let’s take the Way, the Truth, and the Life; let’s take Jesus!