SEEMS RIGHT

Recently in meditation I heard a scripture that I haven’t thought about in a long time. It is a verse I have known since I was a little mean kid and it was taught to me in King James English.

“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” (Proverbs 14:12) It is repeated in Proverbs 16:25 word-for-word.

“The proverb contrasts the roadway with the road’s destination. The pathway immediately ahead is straight and smooth, easy to travel. So it would seem like a good path to follow, except that it’s destination is destruction. One view of the proverb is that the straight road represents wickedness that is disguised or rationalized. Another is that the sage recognizes the ambiguities of life; even when good judgment is used with regard to what a person can see, things may still turn out quite badly. Or “but after it are the ways of death.” The phrase “ways of death” features the result of these paths. Here death means ruin. Possibly the proverb envisions that the initial path which seemed good leads to other paths whose outcomes are all ruinous.” (New English Translation notes)

“There is a path before each person that seems right,
but it ends in death.” (NLT)

What seems clear to me is this: Many paths and decisions that are being made by individuals, government, education, media, military, culture or entertainment appear as smooth roads and good ideas that could very easily end in death (ruin) as opposing the ways of the Lord. Not that this is something new but it does appear these paths are more crowded than ever. 

“Enter through the narrow gate. The gate is wide and the road is wide that leads to hell, and many people enter through that gate. But the gate is small and the road is narrow that leads to true life. Only a few people find that road.” Jesus