A Moral Compass
It’s easy to get lost when we travel in unfamiliar areas, and people have always needed a way to find the right route to travel. In times past, men would look to the North Star to guide them, or use a compass to aim them in the right direction. A map is always helpful in finding the right road to take or the best exit to leave the freeway to get to your destination. Today we can even use GPS to help us find our way along an unfamiliar route or in a new city. All of these things are helpful to find the right way to travel to get from point A to point B, but what about the more important paths in life?
What guide is used to find your way to eternal life or make moral decisions?
The moral decay in the world is appalling, and people seem to have lost their moral compass and can’t find the way to get back on the right track. We can be sure that people will become more confused as time goes on.
“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise” (Proverbs 12:15).
Foolish people never seek after wise counsel but follow whatever path seems right to them. That’s a bad way to live and one that brings unhappiness, disease, and ultimately death. The wisest counsel is found in God’s word…the Holy Bible. Following God’s way will lead to moral uprightness and eternal life.
People choose the way they will go, but too often they make their choice based on wrong directions or ideas. They usually choose the path that looks the easiest to travel or seems like more fun. That’s how cults come about and grow into a blemish on society. You need to know what you follow so you can make a better choice in the way you go.
For instance, Joseph Smith said he was given instructions by an angel named Moroni to find some golden plates, which translated to the Book of Mormon. Today, we know the cult he started as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, or simply as the Mormons. They make statements that almost sound as if they are Christians, but they deny the deity of Christ, among other mistruths. They follow religious works that are supposed to bring rewards, but the people who follow this cult are deceived.
Jesus is God, and He made it clear that He is the only way that leads to eternal life.
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).
People who follow Mormon teaching have a very different view of Jesus and are following the wrong way. They also add many things to Scripture that aren’t Biblical. A person who doesn’t study Scripture can easily be duped into this heresy.
“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8).
There are instances of an angel speaking with people, but Scripture wasn’t changed by what the angel said. For instance, Gabriel told Mary that she would give birth to the Messiah. This was a fulfillment of Scripture, not an alteration to it. The only protection against losing your way and following heresy is for you to know the truth, which is only found in God’s word.
Many people blindly follow the Roman Catholic teachings, which deviate sharply from God’s pure truth. Very little of the Roman Catholic teachings align with Scripture, but people continue to follow this way of men without question.
When you don’t have the proper road map, it’s easy to get lost and deceived. Scripture is our guide. Any path that leads away from Scripture is heresy.
Today, there are people who would have us believe that it doesn’t make any difference which path you follow. “All roads lead to Heaven” they say. They are deceived. Don’t get lost on this wrong path. Had there been another way, then Jesus wouldn’t have had to shed His blood for our salvation. He is the only path that leads to salvation.
“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).
Why do you think few people find the narrow way?
Many people are looking for a path that allows them to live a life of rebellion to God, but still want to make it to Heaven when they die. Salvation is by faith in Jesus alone, but if that faith doesn’t lead you to the strait gate and the narrow way, then you need to question yourself as to whether you have truly placed your faith in Jesus or if you just want fire insurance against the lake of fire.
Did you just say the words “I believe” and then continue in sin? The words mean nothing if you don’t mean them. If you follow the way of the world, then you aren’t following the way that leads to eternal life. Base all your choices in life on Scripture, and you won’t go astray.
We need to know how to make the right choices in life, and that’s where Scripture comes in. From the very beginning, Satan has tempted people to rebel against God by making the sinful way seem fun. It isn’t fun when sin leads to illness, prison, or deep emotional pain.
“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12).
Be careful when you feel temptation calling to you. Many young people graduate from high school and look forward to going away to college. The temptations they face will be great. Many teens will be on their own for the first time and will face making adult choices; and many of those choices are moral ones. Since the Bible has been banned from our public schools, they no longer teach proper moral choice, but they do teach the way of the world. If parents haven’t placed their children’s feet firmly upon the narrow way that leads to life, the temptations may be too great.
The way of the world, which is ruled by Satan, can easily win. One choice to sin can lead to many more. Parties where alcohol and drugs are abundant will lead to sexual encounters. Sexually transmitted disease is devastating, and unwanted pregnancy can lead to abortion. This is a chain reaction in the way of the world. It may seem right to ignore God’s ways, but you will always regret not following that narrow path.
Temptation will always be there throughout our lives to draw us away from God. It’s important to study Scripture daily as a guide to stay on the right path. Reading a chapter or two each day or studying a devotional will help to keep Jesus in our hearts as we go into the world.
Going to a job every day can be challenging. You work with some people who aren’t easy to be around, and serving the public can be frustrating. There’s a daily need to choose to follow Jesus. It’s easy to get short-tempered with others or to take long coffee breaks or lunch breaks, which is stealing time from your employer. When tempted to veer from the way you know is God’s way, pray.
“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil…” (Matthew 6:13a).
Jesus gave us a model prayer which is commonly referred to as The Lord’s Prayer. Don’t be afraid to use His words to guide your way. It is Satan who wants to get you off of the narrow path and onto the broad path of sin through temptation. The more sin you allow into your life, the farther you will wander from Jesus. The problems will snowball as you walk farther down the way that leads to destruction.
God’s love is eternal, and your sins will be forgiven if you ask.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness“(1 John 1:9).
Repent and get back on the way that leads to eternal life. Better yet, don’t get off of that narrow path.
To follow Jesus, you need to learn to hear His voice. We learn to hear Him by studying and applying Scripture. If you study His word, then you won’t have to really think about what is the right choice in the path to follow. If you come to a crossroad, you’ll know what is right in the eyes of the Lord, and you’ll follow that path. Making those right choices gives evidence that you’ve truly accepted Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for your salvation.
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand“ (John 10:27-28).
We all make bad choices sometimes, but following Jesus is never a bad choice.
Which way will you choose? Will you follow Satan and go the way of the world? Many people choose that way and regret that choice for eternity. If you choose to follow Jesus, then you choose the way that leads to eternal life.
Don’t get lost. Choose to follow Jesus.
God bless you all,
Nathele Graham
www.straitandnarrowministry.com
ron@straitandnarrowministry.com
Ron and Nathele Graham’s previous commentaries archived at https://www.raptureready.com/featured/graham/graham.html
All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God breathed.
If you’d like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries, just drop me an email and let me know.
.
.