Proverbs: Chapter 14

The Way Seems Right:

Shelf Road | Canon City, Colorado 

There are many things that we can do or say in order to make others believe we are good people. Unfortunately, most of us will do this in a way that is detrimental to our souls. Folly brings folly. We build our houses yet we disregard where we build them. We create our treasures here on earth and forget about who God is and what He has given to us both in life and in death. We are called to be faithful to God and honor Him with our actions, yet we trample on His commandments then preach a false gospel. Why? Because we are foolish people who believe we can achieve everything we want in life on our own. The motto of 2018 is: "I got this." Yet, we don't have it and we won't get it. What is it that we don't have? True joy and meaning in life, if we are searching for it here on earth, we have already lost our way. God shows us what is right and what is wrong, if we take His advice we will be better for it. Only a fool will dispute right vs. wrong and say it doesn't matter, what is right for some isn't right for others, while this can be accepted in some aspects of life, it is not true for the meaning of life.  We should not wander through life careless about our sins or just going through the motions. We are called to be people who make wise choices and learn from our mistakes and those who came before us. We always have room to grow regardless of circumstance. A wise man does not say: "Look at how wise I am." A wise man would say: "I am nothing without God." and thank Him for all His blessings. I can't say that I am wise, well I could, but it wouldn't be truthful. I am growing in wisdom and most of that has been through my own stupidity and poor choices. One of the greatest things God allows us to do is fail. It is a humbling experience, for the wise person, or it is an excuse generator for the fool. Unfortunately, I believe God has heard my excuse generator run a little too often. Thankfully, His grace is never-ending and He has been very patient with my stubborn self. His love is far beyond anything I can imagine.

"There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death." There is a lot of ways that seem right to Jordan, but its end is the way to eternal separation from God. I believe that I should spend more time diving deep into the idea of eternal separation from God. I think it is something that we take way too lightly. The creator of all things; He who keeps the stars in their place, the planets from colliding, gravity in check, dark matter in space, every atom in the universe operating, etc. and we don't fear being separated from Him for eternity? Hm. Perhaps we are missing something. There are a lot of things that seemed right to me when I was a child, I desired what I wanted, when I wanted it, regardless of how I got it. This concept was sinful and thankfully I matured to the point of not crying if and when I was denied cookies for breakfast. Then, in my teenage years, I developed the Napoleon complex of presenting myself as something far better than I was, disregarding the truth and seeking only what pleased me, God humbled me with a couple surgeries. During College I felt I was the man because I was a talented baseball player, I felt invincible and decided I don't need to listen to God, I know what is best for me and I made many foolish choices. Post-College is when God really went after my heart by revealing that I had a problem with lying, he exposed this in a very emotional and heart-grabbing way. I was launched into the wonderful world of counseling and it changed my life completely. God used a terrible event as the rebuilding of my relationship with God on a firm foundation with Christ as the cornerstone. I am far from perfect to this day, but He gave me freedom from lying amongst other things. He showed me that His way is far better than my way. In the end, I receive Him, a far greater gift than I deserve. Christ's love for us is unfathomable. He restores us in Him every day and He offers us grace upon grace. There is a way that seems right, but it is wrong. All it will do is leave you hollow and it won't fill the eternity-sized hole in your soul, only Christ can grant you that. Seek him with all your mind, heart, and strength. 

Dear Lord, I come to you as an aspiring servant of your work. I pray that you will increase in me the knowledge of you and your mercies that I might better exude your grace. Show me more of you through pain and heartache if necessary. Show me the joy I can find in you by following Christ's example of loving others. Humble me in you. Amen. 

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