My dear readers,

Are You in the Way of Life?

Proverbs 10:17: “He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.”

From the world’s perspective, to be “in the way of life” is to live according to one’s hopes, dreams, and wishes. Those who shared that they are living their dream are living in the way of life. It is a life of their making. For example, a young man struggled in life, grew up determined to make it rich by the time he turned 30 years old. He worked hard, scrimped and saved, studied and worked to support himself through his studies. In less than 5 years of working life and with wise investments he made it rich. He is married with three lovely children living is a nice semi-detached, multi-million-dollar house. When asked if he has accomplished in life what he has planned, it would be a resounding affirmative. He plotted, planned and executed his way of life marvellously.

There are many like him in the world even though their goals might not be monetary in nature. Some of these goals might even be considered by many as noble and very worthy of praise. They help the earth as a whole and keep it safe for future generations (or so they think); or helped millions of people out of poverty by building homes and providing jobs; or gave millions of dollars to build hospitals, orphanages, and give scholarships to needy students from poor countries so that they can have a good life. These noble and philanthropic ways of life have provided great help to many and are to be applauded. The ones who have these as their goals and accomplished them would honestly say they have fulfilled their way of life. The tragedy is that after all the help given, everyone they help (who are without Christ) will still die in their sins. Their way of life lacks the potency to overcome death in the lives of the people they help.

But when God uses the phrase, “in the way of life” in Proverbs 10:17, He refers to a life that is eternal in Christ. The one who lives in the way of life has experienced a life in Christ. A life in Christ is a life that knows Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Saviour. His sins have been forgiven by God in Christ, for Christ died for his sins and rose from the dead for his justification. He stands righteous before God. He knows this in his heart, like a man who is thirsty knows what it is like to have his parched throat quenched when cool refreshing water flows down his throat. When the salvation grace of God in Christ flows through his whole being, he knows it within. He is a new person. He has been given a new mind. His heart is filled with love for his Christ that he has never felt before. This is the way of life that Proverbs 10:17 speaks of. It does not have an earthy smell even though the sinner knows that he can only receive this grace while he remains alive on earth. He cannot receive this grace in hell. This grace is not offered to anyone in heaven, for there is none who can enter heaven except he who had received it while he lived on earth.

His life will be lived in accordance with God's Word. The “way” is not a subjective definition of what is right in the eyes of man. The Word of God is the Book that reveals the right way to live. Now that the sinner has been saved and become a child of God, he is able to understand the way and walk thereby, and his salvation begins the way of life for him. The Hebrew word for “way” here refers to a well-trodden travellers’ road. Many have travelled on this way. Millions of Old Testament saints have travelled it. Many more New Testament saints have also travelled it. Every born-again believer must travel this way on earth that brings him ultimately to heaven. The name of this well-trodden road is the Bible. He stops trusting in self. He no longer will do what is right in his own eyes. If he does, he is convicted in his heart of his sin and returns to the Lord. Proverbs 3:5-8 explains it this way: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.”

That is why Proverbs 10:17 says that he “keepeth instruction,” i.e. chastisement. The word “keepeth” means to put a hedge around something and protect something precious from being stolen. Every child of God knows that he is not perfect. He admits readily that the influence of the world continues to bombard him. He is affected by the world even as he struggles to keep the world out of his mind and heart. The world still manages to force its way in and corrupt him. This has led to transgressions that the child of God hates to commit. That is why when the LORD rebukes him through a message or a person or an article he reads, he is very appreciative. He is so thankful to the LORD that he wants to put a hedge around it and not forget the precious lesson of God’s chastisement. He understands that it is because of God’s love for him that he is chastised. He does not receive the chastisement as from man even though it may be man who is disciplining or rebuking him. He sees the invisible hand of his loving heavenly Father behind it. His desire to be holy, as his heavenly Father is holy, humbles him to receive every admonishment graciously and thankfully. Thus, he is able to agree wholeheartedly with the psalmist in Psalm 119:105-110: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments. I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word. Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments. My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law. The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts.”

However, the one who refuses reproof (i.e. to be corrected), errs (i.e. is out of the way). He is out of the way of life and is walking in the way of death! There is no other way except these two ways. Pride is usually the biggest obstacle in a person’s heart that prevents him from accepting rebuke. He thinks he is right. He desires to save his reputation. He wants others to see him as one who is great and clever. To be corrected makes him look small because he feels small. Very often he will become angry and very defensive. Justification is the usual manner of life to mitigate before others so he can feel good and gain back some modicum of pride. As long as rebuke from God's Word is rejected, he remains out of the way of life. His prayers will not be heard. He is on his own fighting the devil and his minions. He walks alone. His worship is rejected by the LORD. He slides further and further down the slippery slope of despondency because of the sins in his life. He is a defeated child of God languishing in the pond of despondency. All these will plague him as long as he does not cherish rebuke when it comes. That is why those who are upset when the Word of God rebukes them (either from the pulpit or other sources) languish in sadness and bear a lacklustre witness. The joy of the LORD is absent from their lives. If he is not a believer, it will be even worse. He pretends to be saved. He acts like a believer. At the beginning of his charade, he feels awkward. With practice and the passage of time, he begins to think perhaps he might even really be a believer! He walks in the way of death thinking that he is walking in the way of life. This happens because he refuses reproof and remains in error.

Are you in the way of life or death? The answer lies in whether you cherish rebuke or not.