Spending time in the book of Proverbs in the Old Testament of the Bible, I’ve noted the following statement is made in both Proverbs 14:12 and Proverbs 16:25:

“There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.” (New King James Version)

I figure when the Lord repeats the same words, they are significant. We live in a culture today where what is the right course to take in life often depends on who you ask. If you ask ten different people, you may get that many answers. It seems that there are far fewer absolutes about what is right or wrong today relative to my youthful years several decades ago. Some of the most common statements made today (and I catch myself doing so at times) are “well, I think” or “well, I just feel…”

How does a person know what is the right way to go during this earthly journey? How can one be certain that the way chosen ends in life eternal?

In John 14: 1-6, we read the following words when Jesus was teaching his disciples:
14 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Clearly, Jesus proclaimed Himself to be the true passage way to everlasting life. For me, as one who has accepted Jesus as my personal Savior and Lord, one who also desires to faithfully follow Christ, it is liberating to know I don’t have to shoulder the burden of always “thinking” or “feeling” that I have to “figure life out.” Rather, I can turn to Him for the answers to all my questions faced in this earthly life, while having the certainty that I will dwell forever with Him when this earthly journey concludes because of His work on Calvary’s cross on my behalf. During this life on earth, I can read His Word for the answers to daily life and pray for His wisdom — that He will open my spiritual eyes to have His understanding. He is indeed a grand place of rest amidst the troubles of this life.

I hope these words today will encourage you. I love to read the gospel of John and just focus on Jesus while I read; to note the other people discussed in that book, but to focus on listening to Him as though there is no one else mentioned. This gospel presents the Son of God in such a personal and simplistic manner and His great love is so very evident. If you’ve never taken the time to read John through, it’s not a long book and will surely encourage you.

May God bless each of you!!