“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.”
Proverbs 14:12
I was recently driving somewhere I had not been before, and I made a wrong turn and ended up on a dead end street. The only option I had to get where I wanted to go was to turn around and go back to where I made my mistake and get back on the right road to my destination. As I thought about what just happened, it occurred to me that the same thing happens on our journey in life. As Christians we know our destination is heaven. But sometimes we take a wrong turn and end up at a dead end and not on the road to eternal life.
I think that dead ends are a wonderful metaphor for all people who take the wrong path in life and end up where they do not want to be. When that happens, the best option is to turn around and get back on the right path! As Christians, we call that repentance!
But let’s first define a dead end. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a dead end is “a position, situation, or course of action that leads to nothing further.” This can be typically thought of in 3 ways. First, there is no exit, such as a dead end street. You can either stay there or turn around and go back. Second, there is no advancement, such as a dead end job. You are as far as you can go in your company hierarchy, military rank, or current vocation. There is no way to advance from where you are without changing your destination. Third, you have reached a termination point, such as the end of a railway line, a cliff, or an ocean. You must find another way to get to where you want to go.
The same is true for our journey in life. I think it’s somewhat safe to say that most people want to go to heaven when they die. That is true for Christians, but also for Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, other religions. Even those with no religion would still like to go to heaven! However, many people still think that there are many paths in life they can take to get to there. But the reality is that there is only one way to heaven according to Scripture. Jesus said in John 14:6, that “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” As God’s son, He had the authority to say that and He could not have said it any more clearly. He is the only way to God and heaven!
So, we must beware of all the other paths in life that are dead ends that lead us away from God and heaven. I would like to share 4 major dead ends in life that most people encounter.
1. The path of wealth
We live in a materialistic world. It’s a world that offers wealth to those who chase after it. While we need some level of wealth or money to live on, it was never intended to be our focus. Jesus told us in Matthew 6:19-20 not to “store up for ourselves treasures on earth” but to “store up treasures in heaven.” He was warning us about the lure of wealth and the god of money. Jesus also said in Matthew 6:24 that “we cannot serve both God and money”! Money is an idol that can draw us away from God and take us down a path of ruin as well as separation from God. As the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” Since we also cannot take our wealth with us when we die, the path of wealth is a dead end!
2. The path of fame
Many people desire to be famous. They want to do something important or be recognized by the world. In music, it’s to be a top performer with millions of global fans. In entertainment, it’s to be an actor in high demand for movies or television shows. And for others it’s to be a top social media influencer, a top physician, a top author, or dare I say, a popular mega church pastor! Although Jesus is the most famous person in all of history, He never sought fame. Instead, he came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). He came to give His life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). And He often told those he encountered or healed not to tell others about him (Matthew 12:16, Mark 9:9) and walked away from crowds that sought to make him king (John 6:15). Seeking earthly fame means wanting our way and earthly praise instead of God’s way and His blessing, and so the path of fame is another dead end!
3. The path of glory
Another path in life that many choose is the path of glory. Usually this occurs in sports where athletes and teams compete to see who the best athlete, player, or team is. The focus is always on winning and was exemplified by legendary NFL coach Vince Lombardi who said, “winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing!” But athleticism doesn’t last forever, and trophies are forgotten after the next season’s champion is crowned. The Apostle Paul wrote, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” (1 Corinthians 9:24). In other words, the race we want to run is the race to get to heaven, not the race to achieve a world record or a championship that will one day be exceeded by someone else. The glory we receive on earth is always temporary. Jesus said, “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 6:1) Earthly glory is fleeting and does not last. The path of glory is also just a dead end.
4. The path of knowledge
In our world of science, technology, and education, many people pursue the path of knowledge. They think the more they learn about our world, the more they can control it and manipulate it for their good or what they believe is the good of others. But this quest for knowledge often excludes God and His Word. They believe that science holds the answers or that humans are capable of knowing everything apart from God. That sounds exactly like what Satan said to Eve in the garden of Eden: “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:5) Human knowledge is insufficient without God and His wisdom (Proverbs 2:6). God created the heavens and the earth, and humans can only try to learn what God already knows! Earthly knowledge cannot save us. The path of knowledge is another dead end!
It is obvious that none of these 4 paths lead to anything that lasts. They are truly a “dead” end because they only lead to death (Prov 14:12) and not eternal life. Why? Because the focus is on self and not God! God calls all of us to submit to Him, to worship Him alone, to sacrifice for others, and to serve Him. Whatever we strive for in this earthly world must be for God’s glory and purpose and not our own.
So, beware of dead ends! If we want to go to heaven there is only one way, and that way is to put our faith and trust in Jesus alone. As Acts 4:12 says, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men way by which we must be saved.” Every path other than Jesus will result in a literal “dead” end to our life!