THE TWO WAYS by J. L. Shuler

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Apr 25, 1906

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 32, No. 17.

THE TWO WAYS.

By J. L. Shuler

THE government of heaven is not arbitrary. Man was made an intelligent being, with the power of choice between good and evil. He was given the privilege of obedience to the eternal principles of righteousness, with eternal life, or of disobedience and death. This power of choice is given to every one, "Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death." Jer. 21:8. "I have set before you this day life and good, and death and evil." Deut. 30:15.

The Way of Life.

"In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death." Prov. 12:28. "Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way." Prov. 13:6. "He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction." Prov. 10:17; 16:17. In these scriptures the fact is clearly stated that those who walk in the way of righteousness or right doing are traveling the way of life. And the apostle Paul says that "with the heart man believeth unto righteousness." Rom. 10:10. If we would travel the way of life, we must first believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ and accept Him as our Saviour. Without Christ we are doomed to death, for all have sinned, and "sin bringeth forth death." But Christ became our Substitute, and paid the death penalty of sin in our behalf. "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures." 1 Cor. 15:3. "Who His own self bare our sins in His body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness." 1 Peter 2:24. And now, by accepting Him as our Saviour, we escape the penalty of sin and we are given life eternal. Christ says, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." "He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life." Christ gives eternal life to every one who accepts Him. There is no other way to obtain eternal life. "Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12.

Now notice the results of following each way: "Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; a blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord; . . . and a curse if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord." Deut. 11:26-28. "If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land; but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." Isa. 1:19, 20. "Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him; for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Wo unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him; for the reward of his hands shall be given him." Isa. 3:10, 11.

"If they obey and serve Him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge." Job 36:11, 12. "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." John 3:36. "The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them;" "but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness." Prov. 11:5, 6. "Righteousness tendeth to life;" but "he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death." Prov. 11:19.

In these scriptures it is clearly stated what results will follow from traveling one or the other of these two ways. Reader, carefully consider these results, and then choose the best way. Why not choose to walk in "the good way," which will secure for you a life of endless joy? As you consider the blessings that accrue from following the way of life, are you not convinced that "this is the way," and that wisdom says, "walk ye in it?" Isa. 30:21.

"Ye shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you." Deut. 5:33; 8:6. "What doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul?" Deut. 10:12; Jer. 7:23.

May we incline our hearts unto Him, to walk in all His ways. J. L. SHULER.