Jeremiah 6:16

Stan Mitchell recently reflected upon a well-known person who made some
memorable statements:

Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra, born in 1925, played mostly for the New York
Yankees. His was a distinguished career, but he is probably better known for
his quirky, intentionally (we think) wise sayings.

His malapropisms [i.e., the usually unintentionally humorous misuse or
distortion of a word or phrase] were funny, true, and disarming. It was he
who declared of a close, competitive game, 'It ain't over 'til it's over.'
Of course he was right.

One time when asked what time it was he is supposed to have responded, "You
mean now?" "It is," he once declared, "déjà vu all over again."

One of my favorites, however, is the following: "Never answer an anonymous
letter." Which of course raises the obvious question: If the letter was
anonymous, where would you send it? Do anonymous letters include a
self-addressed envelope for replies?

One of his most famous sayings was "When you come to a fork in the road...
take it!" *

Of course Berra was saying this in jest, with a twinkle in his eye, but his
statement can make us think.

Mitchell correctly affirms: "The world, selfish and indulgent, has no
direction. Like Berra's advice, the world has no better advice on life than
to say, 'Take a road, it doesn't matter which, take the one that delights
your heart, regardless of who it hurts, or how morally corrupt that choice
may be.'"

The Lord however, differs with this clueless, directionless philosophy...

"This is what the LORD says: 'Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the
ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find
rest for your souls. But you said, 'We will not walk in it'" (Jeremiah
6:16).

When the Israelites stood at the "fork in the road," they chose the wrong
road. Jesus states that most people make the same unfortunate choice:
"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that
leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is
the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who
find it" (Matt 7:13-14).

The BROAD way - the way to destruction - is the way of sin (cf. Romans
6:23).
But the NARROW way to life - eternal life - is through Jesus, God's Son
(John 14:6). Jesus paid the price for our sins by dying on the cross for us
(Ephesians 1:7).

WE can access the Way to life through our obedient faith - placing our faith
and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turning from sin in repentance (Acts
17:30-31), confessing Him before men (Romans 10:9-10), and being baptized
(immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38).

Consider Mitchell's closing admonition:

"So when you get to a fork in the road, choose the Lord's way. Happily for
us, God provides guidance that is clear, right and true."

Won't YOU choose the Lord's way?

David A. Sargent