My Way

For Monday, April 17, 2006
Proverbs 16:25

There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death.

With apologies to Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley, let me read a famous song that this proverb addresses so well.

My Way

And now, the end is near;
And so I face the final curtain.
My friend, I'll say it clear,
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain.

I've lived a life that's full.
I've traveled each and ev'ry highway;
But more, much more than this,
I did it my way.

Regrets, I've had a few;
But then again, too few to mention.
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption.

I planned each charted course;
Each careful step along the byway,
But more, much more than this,
I did it my way.

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew.
But through it all, when there was doubt,
I ate it up and spit it out.
I faced it all and I stood tall;
And did it my way.

I've loved, I've laughed and cried.
I've had my fill; my share of losing.
And now, as tears subside,
I find it all so amusing.
To think I did all that;
And may I say - not in a shy way,
"No, oh no not me,I did it my way".

For what is a man, what has he got?
If not himself, then he has naught.
To say the things he truly feels;
And not the words of one who kneels.
The record shows I took the blows -
And did it my way!

When the author of the song faces the final curtain and states his case of which he is certain, do you think he really will be certain as he stands before God the Judge? Often there is a way that seems right but ends in trouble and even death. All the more reason we need to go beyond what seems right to us and look for better guidance. For the scripture writers that means going to God’s Law or Word. Psalm 119:105 sums it up well: Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Sometimes God’s Word may not be specific enough for a decision we must make. In such a case, Proverbs would have us seek counsel: Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed (15:22).

The point is this. We’ve got to take into account that we are creatures of the Fall. We live in a fallen world and are ourselves “bent,” as we would be described in C. S. Lewis’ world of Malacandra. What seems right may very well be the course that leads to death, because the world itself is out of kilter and sets up illusions for us as to what is important, as our song demonstrates. Furthermore, our hearts are tainted with corruption so that, in contrast to what our culture teaches us is the one thing we can trust – viz., the heart – is what we must be most careful to examine to see if it is trustworthy. And then there is Satan and his forces who are clever and seek through subtle means to lead us astray.

Christians, as we face the final curtain, may it be said of us that he turned from his own way to follow the one who is the Way. May our song be, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7).