Proverbs 12:28. In the path of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death.
The proverbs aren’t just about tucking away some witty sayings that sound good on coffee mugs and bumper stickers. The proverbs aren’t even simply wise sayings to help you have a better life.
The proverbs are life and death.
King Solomon is making us an offer we can’t refuse – No Death! The path of righteousness is life without death? Eternal life? But is that what Solomon had in mind? Maybe not. But he definitely saw a righteous life as a path to a long and prosperous life here on Earth. He understood that the good life is the righteous life. And the righteous life is one that seeks to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.
But whether or not King Solomon understood the gift of eternal life from God or not, we do. But for us in Christ, the offer of eternal life does not come from following the path of righteousness, but rather by a righteousness that comes through faith.
The clear and obvious problem with the proverb is that none of us walk the path of righteousness. “There is none righteous,” the Apostle Paul said. Even worse, “All have sinned, and sin deserves death.”
So how can Solomon say that there is a way to not die? How can we actually live a righteous life before God and live forever? How can we know that even though we will die, we can still live forever with God?
Romans 6:23 …but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The only way to die and still live forever is to accept the free gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. Have you done that? Have you received Jesus as the greatest gift from God? Are you trusting in his righteousness instead of your own? I hope that you are. Faith in Jesus is our only hope in death.
You: Are you sure that if you died today you would live forever with God?
You in Christ: In what ways does trusting in Christ’s righteousness rather than your own look different on a day to day basis?
Christ in you: How does Christ in you motivate you to live a righteous life through him?
Pray: Father, the gift of eternal life is only good because I will spend it with you. Let me start now, living each day as if it were in the fullness of your presence. Amen.
To Live is Christ 