Articles
The Easier, Softer Way
“The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous…the face of the LORD is against evildoers.” (Psa. 34:15-16)
“If everyone jumped off a bridge, would you?” This is a timeless question to point out someone’s foolish choices. Frequently, the problem is that people like to go along with the crowd without bearing in mind the result. Someone who chooses to live a life of sin is the same as the person jumping off a bridge. It will only end in their life being taken from them. Why don’t we take the path less traveled—the way of righteousness?
Let’s look at an instance where someone fell to the bidding of the crowd. Aaron, who had been the mouthpiece (cf. Ex. 4:14ff) for Moses with Pharaoh of Egypt, made a serious blunder. He was to look after the Israelites while Moses received the Law from God. However, the people pressured him into making an idol (a golden calf) because they wanted a “god” for themselves. Not only was Aaron’s willingness wrong, but his reasoning to Moses is laughable. After Moses returned from being with God, Aaron said, “I said to them, ‘Whoever has any gold, let them tear it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf” (Ex. 32:24). Potentially, the only thing that saved Aaron at this moment was Moses interceding on his brother’s behalf (cf. Deut. 9:20).
Another example of foolish decision-making can be seen in Rehoboam. Initially, the new ruler asked for time before giving a response to the people of Israel (cf. 1 Kgs. 12:5). Furthermore, he looked to the respected men (elders) of the people to receive guidance on how to rule the people (vv. 6f). The foolish king chose to follow his peers’ advice instead. There is little doubt that peer pressure played a role in the choice that Rehoboam made. The king should have listened to his father’s advice, “He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm” (Prov. 13:20). Consequently, the king lost the majority of his kingdom that day. It was only by God’s grace that he didn’t lose his life (1 Kgs. 12:22ff).
After focusing on two situations where foolish choices were made, let’s look at a couple of events where godly wisdom prevailed. Almost immediately, the Apostles were confronted for teaching that Christ had risen from the dead. First, Peter and John (Acts 4:3) then all the Apostles (Acts 5:18) experienced imprisonment for their faith. Additionally, they were flogged for their reluctance to denounce Christ (v. 40). Christ had told them, “Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 10:32-33). At this moment, the Apostles were following the instructions of the Lord Jesus.
The life of the Apostle Paul is remarkable. At one moment, he is siding with sinners (cf. Acts. 7:58), then, later on, he would boldly proclaim the righteousness of God among multitudes (cf. Acts 17:22ff). Paul outlines some of his great suffering for the kingdom of God (cf. 2 Cor. 11:21ff). Most hearing about what Paul was willing to endure probably would not find that life very inviting. The majority would not follow Christ as Paul did; however, at the end of his life, Paul would confidently say, “…In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Tim. 4:8).
Sometimes it is easy to follow the crowd because it is the popular thing to do. Even though it might seem like the right action to take, there may be severe consequences. The devil’s way is, “Do whatever you want. It is your life!” God’s way is, “For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body” (1 Cor. 6:20). The so-called easy life of sin is a delusion. It does not bring fulfillment. True fulfillment comes from being a child of God (cf. Rom. 8:17; Eph. 1:13f). The road may be difficult, but it is so worth the effort.
