Preached at Good News Mission on May 26th, 2024
Pastor Dr. Charles Stanley once said, “there are two paths you can walk: faith or fear. It’s impossible to simultaneously trust God and not trust God.”
One of the gifts that God has given to us is the gift of free will. We can choose to either walk with God or not. We can choose to either walk in sin or walk in righteousness. It’s up to us to decide.
Therefore, tonight we’re going to look into two different paths in which we can travel in our spiritual life. One I’ll call the Path of Righteousness, the other I’ll call the Path of Sin. In order to make my point, I want to go back to the beginning. Back to the creation and to the fall of mankind.
When God created all things he did so in 6 days and then rested on the 7th. The way it describes creation is that there was an instant creation of a large amount of matter in the form of water, and then God began to create order and complexity from that.
Genesis 1:1,2 says: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
And then God injected energy in the form of light.
Genesis 1:3-5 says: And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.
One observation we make is that God moved matter and energy from a lower order to a high order. From something less organized to something more organized. One way to look at it is that God wound up the clock as he created the heavens and the earth.
In the fall however, we see the opposite take place. We see what science refers to as the law of Entropy. Where things move from a high order to a lower order. Or where the state of matter and energy move towards chaos.
Genesis 3:17-19 says, And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
At the fall of mankind we see the beginning of what is referred to in science as the 2nd Law Thermodynamics, which is Entropy. We see a move from order to chaos. It’s a transference of useful energy to non useful energy.
We see that destruction always follows the path of disorder and chaos. It moves from an organized system to a disorganized one. Another way to look at it is that God wound up the clock (like I said earlier), but mankind caused the clock to wind down by the introduction of sin.
There is a scientific principle referred to as the Path of least resistance – (or the principle of least effort or least action) The path of least resistance is the physical or metaphorical pathway that provides the least resistance to forward motion by a given object or entity, among a set of alternative paths. The concept is often used to describe why an object or entity takes a given path in nature.
Destruction, decay, and rot, all tend to follow these paths. In a building structure or in any structure, the weakest point within that structure will eventually give way and cause the rest of the structure to fall. In other words, rot brings more rot. Destruction brings more destruction.
It’s the same in a military operation, in a company, in a government, in a ministry, and even in a family – you’re only as strong as your weakest link, or weakest point. If no effort or energy is put into the system, it will eventually fail.
We see this principle for the path of least resistance throughout the natural world, but what we don’t see in nature is a path of greatest resistance, which is the opposite of the path of least resistance.
It’s not observed in the majority of natural processes in the universe. If evolution were true, then this is the path it would take. Because it would move from a lower order to a higher order. From something less complex to something more complex. But we don’t see this in nature. BUT there is a place where we do see this principle. We see it in those that live according to the Word of God.
Henry David Thoreau, who was an American philosopher and poet said, “The path of least resistance leads to crooked rivers and to crooked men.”
There is a parallel between our heavenly Father and his creation vs the sinful man and this fallen world. Basically, what I’m getting at is the choices we make in this life will profoundly impact which of these two paths we will go down. Either the path of holiness and righteousness, or the path of sin and rebellion.
To hopefully better illustrate this, I’m going to break this down between Easy choices vs. Hard choices
The easy choice or the path of least resistance tends to be the path of the lazy and the corrupt.
- Proverbs 13:4: The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.
- Proverbs 20:4: The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.
- Proverbs 10:4-5: A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame.
To take this path it requires little to no energy, almost no effort is required, laziness is actually expected. The outcome of the easy choice leads to: Destructive habits and Destructive behavior and broken lives. This is the Sinners choice. The choice of the natural man.
It is a path that is based more so on the senses and not on faith. It’s based on what I can see, what I can touch, what I can hear, what I can feel, and what I can taste.
Now, what about the opposite path? The path of greater resistance. This path tends to be the path of the righteous. For example:
- Galatians 6:9 – And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
- Proverbs 12:24 – The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor.
- 1 Corinthians 15:58 – Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
This harder path requires an injection of energy, effort is required, hard work is expected.
When you choose this path it leads to Productive habits, Productive behavior, It builds character, it builds integrity and It brings about the fruits of the spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23 says; But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
THIS…is the righteous man’s path. It is that of the godly man. It’s a path that is based on faith and not on sight.
- It’s not based on my flesh or my senses.
- It’s based on what I know about God.
- What I know in His Word.
- It is based on my faith in Him and not myself.
What do I mean it’s based on faith?
For example, when you make a mistake with your wife, and then you tell her the truth (which is the righteous path), you have no guarantee that she will forgive you. You have no guarantee that you will ever gain her trust again. You have no guarantee if things will work out. You are only running on faith that God will work this out because you choose to walk a righteous path. Rather than lying to her, you told her the truth. In the immediate, that’s the hard path. It’s easy to tell a lie, it’s harder to tell the truth.
Also, for example, in the Bible, when a Jewish shepherd was required by the law to give of his first from his flock, he gave in faith because he didn’t know if that lamb would give birth to a second. He gave in faith trusting that God would provide the increase.
When you walk the path of the righteous, you walk in faith and not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 – For we walk by faith, not by sight. The sinful path relies upon the senses. The righteous path relies upon the Holy Spirit. The sinful path says, “I want to be in control.” The righteous path says, “Lord, let thy will be done.”
The sinful path takes back control, while the righteous path relinquishes control to an omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent God.
To help illustrate this point, let’s go to Psalm 73. Here we see how we can at times become envious of those that walk this sinful path, but…if we just be patient, we will see the end of their easy choices.
PSALM 73
A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. (2) But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. (3) For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. (4) For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. (5) They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. (6) Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. (7) Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. (8) They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. (9) They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. (10) Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. (11) And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High? (12) Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. (13) Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. (14) For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. (15) If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children. (16) When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; (17) Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. (18) Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. (19) How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors. (20) As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image. (21) Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins. (22) So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee. (23) Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. (24) Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. (25) Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. (26) My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. (27) For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. (28) But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.
You see…easy choices, in the moment, can be prosperous like this psalm refers to. But…it’s only temporary. So often the easy path (or the sinful path) brings immediate gratification. That’s why so many people follow that path. But…it will never last. For those that chose the easy path it looks like they are prospering, they’re having a good time, and it looks like nothing goes wrong for them, but give it some time and you will eventually see their destruction. In the end, it brings everlasting pain.
The harder path (or the righteous path) oftentimes brings immediate pain and sorrow. That’s why so many avoid it. I preached here a couple months ago about what my wife and I have been through and it clearly hasn’t been an easy life. But I can say that it has been a joyful and peaceful life. Not so much on the outside, but on the inside. The world can be in chaos, like it is now, but our souls are at rest and at peace with God. And you can see the reward of our patience in doing good, in walking the path of righteousness. We now see our daughter walking with the Lord, Amen.
Matthew 7:13,14 says; 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.
Most will follow this wide path because it’s easy, few will follow Christ, because it’s hard. But for every hard choice you have to make, you will often find it tied to one of God’s commandments. Do not lie, Do not steal, Do not commit adultery, Do not covet. But, every God-given commandment is for our benefit. And to keep his commandments is a demonstration of our love for Him. Jesus said in John 14:15 – “If you love me, keep my commands.”
But here’s the cool part. As you keep walking the righteous path, in time…choosing the right becomes easier. In fact, you’ll grow to see, it’s the only choice you have. Or better yet, it’s the only choice you want to make, because you love Him more than you love this world and the things in it.
So if you find yourself in a place between an easy choice and a hard one, between doing what’s right, and doing what’s wrong. Remember, Jesus Christ took the hard path for you and I because he loves you. He took that path to the Cross, even though he begged the Father for another way, he still chose that hard path for you and I. And if he took the hard path for us, he will give us the strength to do the same.
Therefore, to walk with the Lord, in the immediate future, will almost always be hard. But in the end you will find rest in Him. But to walk with this world, yes, it will be an easy path in the immediate, but the end of the path leads to hell, and that is a hard life that will last for all eternity. So please, choose Christ before it’s too late.
Let’s Pray
Family Bible Church 