Bible Reading:
Exodus chapter 20 verses 1 to 18

Go Your Own Way

We read in Ecclesiastes 11: 9. Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes:

When we read this verse it seems to be a licence to do as we please. Such advice is what we all like to hear.

"Go and please yourself!"

King Solomon was the wisest man of his day because God gave him great wisdom. Here we have a statement he made not just to young men. It is a statement to all generations because it really is relevant to people in the world no matter how old they are.

What do young people like to do to please themselves these days? Modern society is full of opportunities to please yourself and have a good time. People in this country are better off than they have been for years. There are encouragements and pressures on every hand to be out pleasing yourself.

Modern technology. TVs, CDs, DVDs, Computers, Playstations, ATBs, motorcycles, cars, widescreen TVs, the latest mobile phones - all sorts of things that young people have access to in these days. Things with which you can have a really good time. Never mind that God says in Mark 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Pop music and pop singers are so exciting nowadays aren't they? A person can really lose themselves in the world of popular music. The hypnotic beat, the words that are sung - all combine to appeal to the senses and put ideas in people heads about all sorts of things.

Go and find some mates to hang out with. If you don't have the things you want from modern society then you might consider getting together to steal some. Never mind that God says in Exodus 20:15 Thou shalt not steal.

Drugs are so often available, tobacco, alcohol, harder stuff. You might consider going out to blow your mind with a good fix of something and feel terrific for hours. Never mind that God says in Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

Relationships are so easy these days. Society in general thinks nothing of people having partner after partner, having girlfriends and boyfriends are practically compulsory - "so long as you're careful". Never mind that God says in Exodus 20:14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Restraints in society are quickly being removed. Things people would not even talk about in private years ago are now openly displayed everywhere. People today think they are free to do as they please and "anything goes". The law in people's hearts and minds is what they want to do, how they want to live. People do not want to be told how they should live - they want to decide for themselves. It is in your nature and in my nature to be that way.

Solomon, the wisest man in the world says. "OK, go ahead, do all that is in your head and your heart to do."

BUT

Solomons words do not end where I stopped quoting them at the start of this message. Although he begins in Ecclesiastes 11: 9. Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: and appears to permit anything we might choose to do, he goes on, "but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity. " (Vanity = vapour or breath like car exhaust on a cold morning. One moment its there the next it's gone.)

It might seem that our younger years last a long time. We might feel fit and well. Old age and weakness might seem a long way away. Youth passes so quickly - before you know it, if your life is spared, you are looking at eternity up close. Death draws near and your life is nearly over. Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.

You might think I'm a miserable person for going on about this - even for raising the subject at all. If I saw you standing in the road and there was a truck coming up behind you at 60mph that you could not see, you'd want me to warn you - wouldn't you?

I must warn you that you're in danger if you have not turned away from things that break Gods law and if you have not asked The Lord Jesus to take away your sin. Gods Word is plain about these things.

Everything each of us does, says or thinks is written down. It is all recorded in tiny detail. Everything is recorded by God. There is no way we can destroy this record. The record is carefully kept and updated. Line after line. Page after page. Day after day, year after year. It is all there, everything you and I have ever done or said or thought.

God knows it all.

One day you and I will stand before God and give an account of all that is written in that book. Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Even if you get through this life in health and strength and relative peace and quiet the day when your book is opened is still before you.
Did you ever get caught out in something wrong? You got taken before someone in authority - you knew what was coming because you had been warned what would happen if you did that bad thing. Do you remember how you felt - waiting for the punishment you had been promised?

Sometimes judgement begins in this life. I have met people who have gone their own way who have brought terrible things upon them before they ever came to face God as their judge.

I have seen people brain damaged through alcohol. I have met people dying of aids - not that aids is always as a result of sin against God but to indulge in lots of wrong relationships can bring such things on a person. I have known someone who was taught Gods truth and yet rejected it in favour of going his own way. He left his wife and family, fell into despair and ended his own life, alone in his car.

You might find these things come upon you if you go your own way - you might not.

Whatever happens in your life the day will come that you will stand before the judgement throne of Almighty God.

There is only one way to escape Gods anger and judgement and that one way is to trust The Lord Jesus. Only The Lord Jesus ever lived a life that generated nothing bad to be written in his book. He offers to transfer all His goodness to cover all the bad entries in sinner's books and to take their bad entries to His book and pay the penalty for them.

In doing this The Lord Jesus delivers sinners like you and I from the judgement and punishment we each deserve from God because of our sin against Him. Instead of judgement sinners cleansed from sin by what The Lord Jesus has done receive full pardon and are welcomed to eternity in Heaven.

Will you go your own way to a lost eternity in hell - or will you trust The Lord Jesus, turn away from offending God and find peace for ever with your God?