Tuesday, September 30, 2014
1 Peter 4:3-4 For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries. In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign you; but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
THE RIGHT WAY
On April 16, 1846, nine covered wagons left from Springfield, Illinois on their way to California. They followed a route that had been recently published in a book called, "The Emigrant's Guide to Oregon and California" by Landsford W. Hastings. They chose to follow Hasting's route instead of the regular path because it promised to save them 350-400 miles of travel. The only problem was, Hasting's shortcut had never actually been tried.
On the way, these poor immigrants discovered their mistake in the hardest way. On the flats, wagons were bogged down in deep, moist sand. Hostile natives attacked with poison tipped arrows. As winter closed in they were still in the mountains. Pioneers lost toes to frostbite. They died of infection, starvation, disease, and in violent conflict with one other. As the food ran out some even turned to cannibalism just to survive.
On paper, Hasting's way had promise, but in reality it lead 41 people from the Donner party to horrible suffering, grief, and death. In the end it was clear that Hasting's way was the wrong way.
Because we're born into this world as sinners, our natural instincts are faulty. If we follow them we won't glorify God, we'll glorify ourselves. And in the end we'll have to explain our self centered lives to God.
But if we listen instead to the Savior who died to erase the record of our sins, then things will be different. Then the path laid out before us in life will be filled with peace, forgiveness, and safety. And at the end of this path we will find eternal safety in God's country.
