Things Just Go Better When You Do Them God’s Way
I’ve been thinking about this quote a lot recently. We live in a world that does not live or abide by this idea - inside and outside the church; christian and non-christian alike. We live in a world that says:
Follow your heart.
Do what you think is right.
Whatever you think or feel is true.
Follow yourself.
But that is not what God says. God says:
Follow My Word.
Do what I say is right.
Whatever I say is true.
Follow Me.
Things just go better when you do them God’s way.
If you have lived any length of time as a follower of Jesus then you know this idea to be true: Things just go better when you do them God’s way. Yet often we continue to run to our way first and God’s way last - if our way doesn’t work.
Just like I said I have been thinking about this quote recently. Fox News dropped an article about how divorce rates are 60-80% lower for couples who avoid pre-marital sex or cohabitation before marriage. And I just thought, duh. Sin wreaks havoc on everything it touches. Sin always splatters. But if you look at our world we consistently live against the grain of God’s way because we think our way is better. And what I have noticed is that this is not just true outside the church - of course lost people act like lost people - but is often true inside the church as well - among those who claim to be followers of Jesus.
And this isn’t just true with pre-marital sex or cohabitation but in almost every sphere of our life:
How we handle our money.
How we function in our marriage.
How we raise our kids.
How we depend (or don’t depend) upon God.
How we speak.
How we view politics.
How we stand (or don’t stand) for God’s truth.
How we view the purpose of our life.
I could go on and on. We must never forget: things just go better when you do them God’s way. Too often we just do things our way and the ask God to bless it along the way. Or we ask, “What is the best way? The easiest way? The most pleasurable way? The most effective way? instead of asking, “What is God’s way?”
God has a design for every single sphere of our lives. He made it. It was His idea. He created the world and everything you see. And it was perfect. Because He has a perfect design. Sin ruined everything. Everything broke. And now through trusting the gospel of Jesus Christ, the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, we have been indwelt by the Holy Spirit and are pursuing God’s design, God’s way, again. Things just go better when you do them God’s way.
This is difficult to pursue. It is easy to lose sight of. Sometimes God’s ways seem confusing. Sometimes, even looking at God’s ways, we think our ways are best. But God’s ways are always better.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” // Isaiah 55:8-9
Isaiah is writing. And he is proclaiming some important truth about God as a prophet of God.
God’s ways are always higher.
God’s ways and thoughts are not just “different than ours”. It is above ours. And not just slightly above but as the heavens are higher than the earth. That is a pretty big gap. He sees everything. He is all knowing, all wise, all present and all powerful. What we can’t see God always sees. What we can’t know God always knows. This is why God gives us principles and truth in His Word to live by.
Our ways lead to death - “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” // Proverbs 14:12
God’s ways lead to life - “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” // Romans 8:6
God’s ways are higher. God’s ways are better. And they are found in Him & in His Word.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” // Psalm 119:105
“I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.” // Isaiah 48:17
God’s ways are fully trustworthy.
God’s way is fully trustworthy even when it doesn’t make immediate sense. The context of Isaiah 55 makes this abundantly clear. God is calling people to “seek the Lord while He may be found” and to turn from their own ways because His way leads to life. What He is proclaiming to them is:
Your way feels right → but it’s limited
God’s ways is right → He sees it all.
Our ways lead to death. His ways lead to life. God sees the full picture where we don’t and He is pleading with them to turn from your ways and turn to God - to repent. His ways are higher. His ways are trustworthy.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” // Proverbs 3:5-6
Things just go better when you do them God’s way.
God has a perfect design for every single sphere of our lives. Ultimately, a relationship with God, following His ways is the only thing that can bring ultimate satisfaction and fulfillment to our lives. We would do well to remember that as we are seeking to take one step closer to becoming true disciples of Jesus Christ.
Sometimes it is difficult to discern what God’s Way is. Let me encourage you from James 1 to ask God for wisdom & direction.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. // James 1:5
We must never forget: things just go better when you do them God’s way. The world says follow you. God says follow me.