Two Roads

               You and I make choices all day long—what we will eat, what we will wear, what we will seek to accomplish, who we will befriend, how we will serve our neighbor, and what route we will take home. Many of the choices we make our relatively insignificant. But there’s one choice we make that matters for all eternity. The book of psalms begins with this choice. Ever since the fall of humankind into sin there have been two roads from which a person must choose in life—the road of the righteous and the road of the rebellious.

The Road of the Righteous

Psalm 1 begins by telling us about the righteous:

               “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of  sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers” (Ps. 1:1-3).

These verses remind us that true happiness is found only in the Lord. Think of a tree that is continually nourished by the plentiful waters of a stream, so that its fruit never fails and its leaves never languish. Likewise, the righteous man who is constantly nourished on the steadfast words of the Lord will not fail to bear good fruit and his source of strength will never shrivel.

               But remaining on the righteous road is not easy. The wicked will tempt us to forsake God’s way in order to pursue the worldly ways. They beckon us to walk with them, and if we do, it isn’t long before we look for the next person, place, thing or idea that seems to satisfy our lust for comfort or control, power or prestige. Sadly, it isn’t long before we actually sit down and join the company of the wicked, scoffing at the way of righteousness. What hope, then, is there to not only choose the road of the righteous, but to remain on it?  

               Thankfully, Jesus did not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of scoffers. Instead, He delighted in, and meditated upon, the law of the Lord. He lived a life of perfect obedience and died a cursed death in our place. He rose again and ascended into heaven where He is exalted at the right hand of God the Father, awaiting the time of His return to judge the living and the dead. During His earthly ministry He taught His hearers that there were two roads from which to choose—one is narrow and the other wide. One will bear good fruit, the other bad. One is filled with true believers, the other with hypocrites and the wicked.

               Believers, of course, are to walk on the road of righteousness. This road is not popular, but it is rewarding. God’s presence is with us every step of the way. His Word instructs us as we journey. His Spirit upholds us as we stand firm against the world, our own flesh, and the devil. The road of righteousness is truly the good life.                                                          

The Road of the Rebellious

In stark contrast to the righteous road is the rebellious road.

               “The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish” (Ps. 1:4-6).

The rebellious road is deceptive. It seems prosperous, fruitful, and lucrative. But like the threshing floor where the good grain is separated from the useless grain (chaff), rebellion doesn’t get you anywhere or anything in the end, except burned.

               On judgment day the rebellious will seek shelter, but will find none. The Judge of all the earth knows our hiding places. On that day the righteous and the rebellious will be separated. The righteous will be with Christ for all eternity in the new heavens and the new earth, but the wicked will be separated from Him forever in hell.

               Therefore, we must choose wisely. Paul implored the Corinthians to “be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:20-21). Jesus rose victorious from the grave so that you and I might be raised to new life too. Therefore, forsake any rebelliousness in you and turn toward righteousness in Christ. Choosing the righteous road does not just glorify God, it is also the way for us to enjoy Him. The righteous road is a blessed road indeed.               

Sarah Ivill (ThM, Dallas Theological Seminary) is a Reformed author, wife, homeschooling mom, Bible study teacher, and conference speaker who lives in Matthews, North Carolina, and is a member of Christ Covenant Church (PCA). To learn more, please visit www.sarahivill.com.