Two Paths, Two Destinies

Two Paths, Two Destinies

Last weekend was a special one for many families in our church as graduates celebrated the end of grade 12. Every graduate has had to make significant decisions about what comes next—decisions that can shape the rest of their lives. All of us can look back and identify choices that changed our life's trajectory: who we dated, what career we pursued, what school we attended, what church we joined, or the choice to follow Jesus and be baptized in obedience to Him.

Our lives are the sum of the choices we've made, and the choices we make define the path we travel. Psalm 1 describes two different paths available to us, leading to two very different destinies.

For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction. (Psalm 1:6)

King David, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, makes clear that the path we take and the people we become is left up to us.

Reading the Psalm

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season, and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever they do prospers. Not so the wicked. They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore, the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction. (Psalm 1:1-6)

The Wrong Path: Three Things to Avoid

Verse one describes the way of the wicked—the path to avoid—through three pairings:

1. Walking with the wicked — agreeing with, listening to, or receiving advice from people who have no intention of honoring or obeying God, and no plan to ever repent.
2. Standing with sinners — aligning with those who intentionally and habitually rebel against God, adopting their behavior and way of thinking.
3. Sitting with mockers — settling in and staying for a while with people who are cynical, self-righteous, and who ridicule others and mock God's truth and authority.

God says: do not follow this path, because the destiny of the wicked, the sinner, and the mocker is destruction and ruin.

The Better Path: Delighting in God's Word

Instead of just telling us what not to do, David shows us where to look for a better path.

Blessed is the one whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever they do prospers. (Psalm 1:2-3)

When David wrote this, "the law of the Lord" referred to the Torah—the first five books of the Old Testament. But for us today, God's word encompasses all of Scripture: the wisdom books, the prophets, the Gospels, and the New Testament letters. The blessed, righteous person is the one who continuously meditates on God's instructions—thinking about God, singing truth, praying, and letting their thoughts and behavior be shaped by His word.

The Tree Illustration

Having spent seven summers planting nearly half a million trees across Alberta and BC while working through university, I know something about this illustration firsthand. A tree planted in the wrong spot will wither, die, and come to ruin. But a tree planted in the right spot—by streams of water—will flourish, grow, and prosper.

In the same way, a righteous person is one who is planted, rooted, and established in God's word.

What This Kind of Life Looks Like

People who delight in and meditate on God's word share certain marks:

• They make time daily to read God's word—whether early in the morning or before sleep.
• They follow an intentional plan for reading Scripture rather than leaving it to chance.
• They hide God's word in their heart, memorizing it so they don't sin against God.
• They can testify to how God's word is shaping their thoughts, attitudes, and lives.
• They acknowledge that life is filled with trials and suffering, yet find themselves sustained and strengthened by God's word through every season.
• They know a deep sense of joy because they trust that God is watching over them.
• They have received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, are filled with the Holy Spirit, pray often, and depend wholeheartedly on God.
• They are not perfect, but they try their best to obey God.

Which Path Are You On?

Which path describes the life you are living these days? If you find yourself walking with the wicked, standing with sinners, or sitting with mockers—even a little—God's word this morning calls you to choose the second path: to delight in God's word, meditate on it, and be rooted not only in Scripture but in God Himself, whom we come to know through His word.

Some of us may feel a bit lazy or apathetic about pursuing God through His word these days—maybe it feels more like obligation than delight. That's okay for a season, but the invitation remains: spend time in prayer and ask God to revive within you a hunger and delight for Him and His word. Choose the second path.

A Church Rooted in the Word

Our vision as a church is to be a biblically functioning community of fully devoted followers accomplishing God's redemptive purpose in the world. It's a vision for a people who are devoted and rooted in God's word, who believe what God says is true, and who obey Him.

For many years, Pastor Henry has played a key role in shaping this vision at Centre Street Church. He has spent a lifetime meditating on Scripture and encouraging all of us to do the same, pursuing a growing relationship with God and inviting us to be fully devoted disciples of Jesus. He and Gwen have lived their lives as examples for us to follow. Pastor Henry has always insisted that Jesus Christ is the head of this church, and that God alone deserves the glory for all that has been done through Centre Street Church.