As soon as sin entered into this world by Adam’s transgression, God showed the only right way for men to take.
Now every person who has been born into this world has to pass through it in natural life: no one is permitted to remain in it, because death has power to make every person move on, and MOVE OFF. Some may have to move off quicker than others, because none can resist this unseen power; thus every one must pass out of this world because not allowed of God to remain in it.
The Gospel is preached to acquaint men with God’s way, and here is one proof of the intrinsic value of the Holy Scriptures. They contain a faithful record of God’s way, and how any person can get into it. It was spoken of by the prophets of old in various ways, but not till the Holy Spirit came down at Pentecost could it be perfectly known. It has been called:
There are many other such-like expressions, but these will suffice for our present purpose.
No man ever found the right way by himself, as the prophet wrote: “O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jer. 10:2323O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. (Jeremiah 10:23)).
Naturally every man chooses the way of Cain, because it seems right to him, but the end thereof are the ways of death (see Prov. 14:1212There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 14:12)). God causes His voice to be heard, as we read, “Thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it” (Isa. 30:2121And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. (Isaiah 30:21)). Those who heed the call of God find that, “The ways of wisdom are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace” (Prov. 3:1717Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. (Proverbs 3:17)).
Let us look at the five quotations:
“The way of holiness.” ― Holiness implies separation from all that which is evil. None can travel on this way unless they have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus. Till this has been effected every person in God’s sight is unclean. The prophet stated: “The unclean shall not pass over it.” What a plain and emphatic statement!
But more, “No lion is there.” The great enemy of our souls has been called a lion; and mark, he cannot go on that way, so it is a safe way, truly the way of salvation from every form of evil.
“The way of understanding.”― Understanding implies an acquaintance with God, both as to the past, the present, and the future.
Thus it is the privilege of God’s people to know His ways so well, that they can speak freely of them to those around them.
“The way of peace.”―Peace implies confidence in God to finish the good work which He has begun in each one of His believers, and bring each one into the fullness of that blessing which He has in store for them, which will be fully realized when the Lord comes the “second time.”
“The good way.”―This implies that God’s people can walk in company with each other, and provoke one another unto love and good works. The prophets, in using these expressions, were addressing Israel, but we are looking at them with the additional light of Christianity shining on them.
“The way of God.”―This implies that the way is divine; it was made known from the beginning to every man of faith, and as time went on God was pleased to give further instruction. Thus we read of a man named Apollos who was mighty in the Scriptures, but he had no knowledge beyond the time of John the Baptist, so he needed to be taught the way of God more perfectly. See Acts 18:24-2624And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. 26And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. (Acts 18:24‑26). The new system, Christianity, had been revealed to the Apostles after the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, with the subsequent descent of the Holy Spirit.
Thus the Christian assembly had been formed on earth, and had taken the place of Judaism. Apollos needed instruction in this further development of the way of God, because his testimony was defective till he had learned more perfectly. Every care has been taken by God to approach men suitably in order to bless them; but such is man’s nature he seeks to keep away from God, because he thinks his own way is better.
However, “grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life,” and many are proving the reality of this.
The Holy Spirit is just as active as on the day of Pentecost, but at that time the blessing was centered in Jerusalem; while now it is spread over many countries, and faithful men are daily making the Gospel known in many parts of the world.
Repentance refers to the anxious person, who is willing to judge himself by taking a low place, so that God may exalt him in due time. No one likes to acknowledge that God’s estimate of him is true, so the first step is the hardest.
Thus we are brought to the vital question, Which way shall it be? The hesitation is only on man’s side; for God is “rich unto all that call upon Him” (Rom. 10:1212For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. (Romans 10:12)).
What a moment of opportunity the present day of salvation is! G. W. Gy.
The Wreck and the Refuge. ― “In a shipwreck, only two courses of action are open―either to abide by the fortunes of the sinking ship, or take refuge in the lifeboat―no other. Either course must be selected. The Christ of God, having entered into this sin-wrecked world, and there finished the work given Him to do, and gone up on high, the word remains― ‘Come unto Me.’ All are under responsibility to accept or reject Him.”