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

Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you want to go away as well?"

Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." John 6:67-68, ESV

These two passages sum up very nicely the choice that is given to all men: They can either go their own way - a way that always seems correct - or they can turn to Christ for their direction. One path has always led to death, and one path has always led to life. And it is not just any life or death, it is eternal life or death. A daunting choice to be sure, but in the end a very easy one, and a very pleasant one if we choose well.

If you are like me, you might be getting a little discouraged with the way things are going in this world in which we live. People always seem to be at each other's throats anymore. And it doesn't really have to be a big issue to set people off. They are so divided now that people are ready to fight at the drop of a hat. And, as the old saying goes, they will provide the hat! 

Though this is discouraging, it should not come as a surprise because Jesus warned us of this very thing. He told His disciples that He had not come to provide peace in this world, but that he had come to bring division (Luke 12:51). He went on to say that families would be divided against each other, fathers against sons and sons against fathers! But how could this be? After all, Jesus is the Prince of Peace! How then could He say that His coming would result in division?

And, of course, the answer is clear: Most men are wise in their own eyes, and we therefore follow the ways that seem right to us. God's way, however, does not always agree with what men think and with how man prefers to act. Since the two are so often in disagreement, the only thing that could result is conflict. Again, this can be very discouraging, but it is also very necessary. You see, if we all just "get along to get along", accepting the opinions of men as if they are superior to God's commandments, then we are really doing them no favors. If you let a child play in the roadway, he will likely be content all the way up to the point that he gets hit by a car. Remove that toddler from the road and you will likely raise a fuss (we all know this to be true from experience) but we will have at least attempted to save them from harm.

In a like manner, tell a person that his conduct is wrong, and you will likely see him respond with anger. You could certainly have more peace by just letting him go his own way, but you are in reality just making the path to Hell a little easier for him. And though we know in our hearts that this is true, we still are hesitant to bring up uncomfortable subjects. That immoral child of yours will be a lot happier if you let them live in their sin. That alcoholic family member will be a lot friendlier to you if you just don't mention their drinking problem. And that slothful teenager who is still under your roof (and, by the way, still under your authority) will give you a lot less turmoil if you will just let them sleep on Sundays instead of insisting that they go to the worship.

But, in each case that we choose the temporary path of so-called "peace", we in the end will be helping them along that road that leads to eternal conflict!

And it's not just the eternal consequences that we face when we do what is right in our own eyes, rather than going to Jesus for the words of life. It is the very thing we began with. People are at each other's throats - sometimes for the smallest things - because we have allowed one another to live without accountability to God. We have let that naughty boy drink and curse and look at pornography. We have let that man tell everyone he is a woman, and then we have let him in the most private of our daughter's and wives' facilities. We have let the Supreme Court rule that God has no place in the public schools.

And we have all discovered something we should have known all along: The division that Jesus told would occur, had to happen because sin has consequences and those who refuse to leave that sin will bring those consequences to everyone they touch! This is why Jesus' disciples must take righteous stands: It's because if they don't, the innocent will suffer. Add that suffering to the toll that is taken when people who might have repented had they just been confronted with their sin, do not have the opportunity to repent. 

What we end up with when we just "live and let live" is a dying world that is in perpetual conflict with one another.

And so, the solution is plain. If we will just come to Jesus for the precious words of life, and if we will help others to come to Jesus, in the end it will result in peace. It is true that those little tykes will throw a fit when you pick them up from that fun roadway they are playing in, but in the end, you will likely have saved their life. And by doing so, in the long run, you will have brought peace to them because they now walk by the words of life that only the Prince of Peace can give. Any other way - even those that seem right in our own eyes, will eventually lead to death. Which will you choose?