“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12).
The basic principle of Proverbs 14:12 applies to life in general, but it has very special significance with respect to our eternal salvation. Despite our confidence about what “feels right” to us, our own opinions and feelings can be dangerously wrong. Honesty about our salvation does not guarantee that we are on the right path. So of all the questions in the world, this is the one where we need the most help in getting the right answer.
There is a path which feels right to man. Our brains, given to us by God, are amazing mechanisms for figuring things out. But if we are trying to find a way to escape our sins, there is no chance that we will be able to do so. If God had not revealed His mind to us, we would not know the first thing about any plan He might have made for our reconciliation (1 Corinthians 2:11). Of course, we can use our rational powers to imagine how we think about God. would like Or can (or even Needed) Establish His plan, and then assume that because such a plan “feels right” to us subjectively, it must be objectively true, even if it conflicts with what Scripture teaches. And not satisfied with this, we can go even further and recognize that our subjective feelings about our salvation were, in fact, God speaking to us in our hearts. No amount of objective evidence from any source will be enough to remove from our minds what we “feel” right.
Its only end is the path of death. The problem, as Solomon saw, is that what man thinks is the right path is often “the way of death.” History is replete with examples of people who acted with great inner feelings of rationality but whose feelings proved disastrously wrong. In fact, as George Moore said, “The wrong way always feels more right.”
But God has not left us to find the path that leads to Him. He has revealed that path in the scriptures impartially and for all time to come. As Paul reminded his friend Timothy, the Scriptures are able to make us “wise unto salvation” (2 Timothy 3:15). No matter what feels right to us, we would do well to humbly listen to what God has said and gratefully accept His plan.
“Where God has placed a period, do not turn it into a question mark” (TJ Bach).
Gary Henry – WordPoints.com AreYouaChristian.com
