The Danger of Living your Life at the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil (Right and Wrong)
Proverbs 14:12 (NKJV) There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.
One day while I was on a mission outreach trip to the frontier region of the Guatemala/Mexico Border in a small village named El Cielo, I went with another missionary to help build a cement patio for a Pastor. He was opening up a laundry business to help support his poor church. I mixed cement the old-fashion way with a hoe and shovel all day on a 95 degree, scorching hot day. We worked until 5 pm and then we ate and got ready for church that night. I was exhausted, but on the way to the church, the Pastor, who I had worked side by side all day with said “you are preaching tonight!” I was shocked! I had nothing to talk about, nor had I given it any thought. I felt panicked and I immediately went to God. Out of nowhere God gave me this verse. I do not even know if I had ever read it before! It was in my head, so with an hour to spare before church I sat outside and searched for this verse and where its location in the Bible. As I began to meditate on “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death”, I watched a bunch of young guys on the street playing soccer. I then received this revelation from God.
As I watched these guys playing soccer, I figured out what God was showing me. There is nothing wrong with playing soccer, it is fun and it is a great way to spend a afternoon. Then I saw it, though there is nothing what-so-ever wrong with playing soccer, the Lord showed me that while they thought nothing was wrong with playing soccer it would effectually lead some of these men to hell. Why? They had nothing to do with God and Jesus. Even though the saving message of Salvation was being preached, that could save their souls, they were so busy playing soccer and never considering if they died that night what would happen to their souls. So that night I preach this message.
There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.
Last week I shared a message on the “tree of knowledge of good and evil.” You see most people understand the problems, the dangers and the horrible reality of “evil.” We all watch the evening news with all the murders, rapes, wars and terrible autracidy in the world. We understand people who live that way, only for themselves and hurting anyone who gets in their way, deserves a place in the Lake of Fire
But do people ever consider the exact same problem that exist with living at the tree of knowledge of good? You see it is the tree of knowledge of good and evil. One tree with one fruit! So now let us focus on the dangers of living a “good, clean moral life.” I want to repeat this, we understand evil and it dangers and all its consequences, but do we understand that living a right life or a good life leads to the same place. Let me explain this verse and the revelation God gave me.
Remember the young men playing soccer, nothing was wrong with that except they were filling their lives with everything but God. While the grace message was being preached just a block away, they were too busy playing soccer to hear the message of God. They had no idea if their life was to end that moment, where would they be?
I cannot count, how many people have I talked to since I became a Christian, I would hear them say that I am going to heaven because; “I am a good person,” or I help people,” or “I give to worthy causes, I keep the law and I go to church, I live by the Golden Rule. How many funerals have I been to and heard people saying ” He is in a better place now, he was a good man, a good father and husband.”
But the Bible says something completely different about these people, and I will get to that in a bit.
Roman 3:10-12 As it is written:“There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.”
In the Gospel of Mark, Chapter 10; A rich, religious young man came to Jesus for eternal life. He believed his religious, good up bringing could win him a place in heaven. But he was taught a hard lesson by Jesus:
Mark10:17-22: Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’” And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.” Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
So many have missed the point of this story. They have believed that in order to go to heaven, you must sell all you have and be poor! That was not the point Jesus was conveying to this young man. The young man told Jesus that he had kept the law since his youth. However, when Jesus told him to sell all, his inner heart’s desire was revealed, for he was in reality violating the Second commandment: Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
His money and possessions were a “god” to him. His possessions owned him. They meant more to him than his eternal life. If he truly had followed the law to perfection, selling his goods would not have been a issue, but it was. Jesus simply revealed this mans heart for him to see. Jesus did not do this for sake of condemnation but to show this young man what he was lacking and how he needed God.
So the Bible explains that none of us are good and righteous people, none of us can live by the law and pass God’s judgement. We all have messed up and fallen short. But this is good news not bad news!
I want you to understand this; You can live a good life, be a good spouse, good parent and a great worker and do all the right things like pay your bills, pay your taxes and be a model person and citizen: only to end up in HELL!
WHO CAN BE SAVED?
Matthew 19 25-26: When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Jesus tell us, “with men this is impossible.” Man can not save himself, he can not do right and be good enough. He can not live under the law and make it. The bible says: If you fail at one point of the law you are guilty of breaking them all! One mess up, one little lie and your finished, but once again this is not bad news but great news. It is great news because Jesus finishes this verse with: “but with God all things are possible”
Written by Dennis Stauffer
Edited by Gary Green (Omega House)
DENNIS STAUFFER INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES IS AVAILABLE TO TEACH OR PREACH AT YOUR CHURCH OR BIBLE STUDY FROM ANY TEACHING FROM OUR BLOGS. EMAIL ME OR FEEL FREE TO CALL @719-373-2427 or dinostauffer@yahoo.com
