The “Fork in the Road”…Sept. 7th
Decisions on the ‘road of life’ are basically easy. Either I keep going straight ahead, I stop altogether, or I turn around and go back where I came from. Stopping on the road of life isn’t desirable, and as much as we’d like, ‘going back’ isn’t an option. So we forge ahead and keep on going. But when the road I’m traveling comes to a fork, I have to make a decision. 
Either turn left or right. How do I know which way to turn? The answer is so ridiculously simple; just ask yourself, ‘where do I want to go?’ If you have a map, you know which fork to take. But without it you’re left up to guessing. And to be honest, an uninformed decision could be deadly.
Of course our ‘forks in the road’ may be as simple as whether we chose to discipline our children or ‘be their friend.’ Even the decision of whether or not to ‘go to church’ is a fork in our road. Realizing our decisions may impact our destiny should make us consider the ‘map.’ Remember the words Joshua said to the people of Israel; “…choose for yourselves today whom you will serve…but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15) They had a decision to make as the road they were traveling led them into the promise land. Their fork was either ‘serve God,’ or serve ‘other’ gods. And like them, we too must consider, “the Fork in the Road.”
“…I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.” I Corinthians 14:15
Sunday morning, September 7, 2014
The following songs are found in the hymnal, Songs of Faith & Praise.
“Step by Step” – 15
“O God, You are my God, and I will ever praise You…” Each step we take on our road must be taken with Him. And we take each step by seeking Him every morning (daily), and learning how to walk in His ways (following the scripture). Once we’ve patterned our lives after Him and walk in His steps, then we’ll know which fork we should take.
“The Love of God” – 122
With the love of God inside our heart, we can impart kindness and warmth to those we meet on the road of life. We can…but will we? The love of God brightens our way and gives us a clearer understanding of what to do when we come to the forks in the road. Take comfort in singing the third verse, “…He has shone us the road…”
“Savior, Thy Dying Love” – 667
“Savior, Thy dying love Thou gavest (gave to) me…” Christ died for us and we sing about His love in this old hymn, but do we just take His love and store it away? Are we willing to give the love He shows us to others? Do you have something, anything you can give to Him? Can you bring to Christ ‘some wanderer’ who is lost in sin. Is there some song you could sing in praise to God? Do you have some offering you could give…something, anything to give to your Savior?
“Oft We Come Together” – no book
A song we no longer have in the Faith and Praise hymnal, but one that reminds us to come together and remember the Lord’s Supper. Often we come together to sing and pray. To bring an offering and to keep in memory all the things Jesus said. To worship our God as we eat the bread and take the cup of blessing. Then in the chorus we sing, “Help us Lord, to see Thy love…”
“Once to Every Man and Nation” – 696
Good or Evil…that’s the choice and to be brutally honest that is the ultimate fork in the road. Which direction will we take in life. We can ease our minds and say we’re taking the ‘right road,’ but if it’s not God’s way…it’s the wrong way. Notice the wording in this old, spiritual song, “By the light of burning martyrs, Christ, Thy bleeding feet we track, toiling up new Calvaries (difficult situations) ever with the cross that turns not back; new occasions teach new duties, ancient values test our youth; they must upward, still and onward, who would keep abreast of (stay with) truth.”
“He Leadeth Me” – 410
Understanding that God leads me in this life, I’m able to know what to do and how to turn when I face the fork in the road. The question we have to ask…is God leading me? “By His own hand, He leadeth me. His faithful follower I would be…”
“What Will Your Answer Be?” – no book
What road will you take? What is your decision? We sing as our invitation song, “Some day you’ll stand at the bar on high, some day your record you’ll see. Someday you’ll answer the question of life…” What road did you take?
“Who Will Follow Jesus?” – no book
We close our song service together with this wonderful song of confirmation. The question we sing (ask) demands an answer; “Who will follow Jesus, standing for the right, holding up His banner in the thickest fight? Listening for His orders, ready to obey, who will follow Jesus, serving Him today?” We have a choice to make, either we will or we won’t follow Him. Let’s do more than just sing the chorus together, let’s live saying…“I am on the Lord’s side; Master, here am I!” Walking down the road of life we will eventually come to a fork. With God as our Guide and the Bible as our map, we’ll know which road to take.
What Will You Do…?
As a child your parents undoubtedly told you when to go to bed, when to get up, what to wear and where to go. That’s the job of a mom and dad. And as a child, you did what your parents told you to do…or at least you should 
have.
But what happens when you grow past the point of being told…it’s time to brush your teeth and get ready for bed? What do I do when no one tells me to make my bed, will I? No one says, ‘pick up your clothes.’ Will I? For most young people today who are out on their own, they will eventually have to answer the questions. But to be honest, that’s only the beginning of the questions they’ll have to face. Outside of the hours they’re going to sleep or what they’re going to wear, they are faced with that first time realization of who am I going to be?
Who I am will be strongly determined by who my friends are. My choices in life will be closely linked with the influences and attitudes with which I associate. On Sunday, March 23rd, the sermon at Waterview church of Christ (Be Careful Who Your Friends Are) offered a strong understanding of this concept. (Click on the website to listen to it www.waterview.org.) From the earliest age of our children, we must help them decide what kind of friends they’ll have. Those early choices will eventually determine what kind of life they’ll live and what kind of ‘god’ they’ll serve. It is my strong opinion that the friends you choose will form the life you live. And the life you live will determine the God you serve. As our young people set their priorities, my prayer is that they will ask this one simple question; “What will I do?”
The question is not new, it’s been asked for generations. On an early morning over 2000 years ago this question was asked about our Savior, Jesus Christ. He was on trial before Pilate, and Pilate (being no friend of the Jewish leaders) was called upon to 
determine the fate of the “King of the Jews.” Since Pilate was a man of authority, he did what any legislator would do; he questioned, investigated, interviewed and then drew his conclusion. According to Luke chapter 23, verse 14 he said, “I have found no guilt in this man…” And, he knew what should be done with an innocent man; release him. But his decision was met with massive disapproval. Now consider this; have you ever made a thoughtful decision only to have your ‘friends’ disapprove? If the choice you make is godly, and your friends don’t like it…you might want to reconsider your friends. At the same time, if your decision is ungodly and yet your friends like it…still, you might want to reconsider your friends.
When the leaders of the Jewish people pushed back with their opinion concerning Jesus, Pilate broken down and asked the same question concerning the Messiah, “…what shall I do with Jesus?” (Matt. 27:22) Pilate’s decision is documented within the pages of the Bible, but the jury is still out with many of our young people today. Most have grown up in homes that give specific directions. They are taught and told what to do and when to do it. But as adults we all have to make the decision concerning life, friends and God!
- Jesus is standing in Pilate’s hall – Friendless, forsaken, betrayed by all:
Hearken! what meaneth the sudden call? What will you do with Jesus?
Chorus: What will you do with Jesus my friend? Neutral you cannot be;
Some day your heart will be asking, “What will He do with me?” - Jesus is standing on trial still, You can be false to Him if you will,
You can be faithful through good or ill: What will you do with Jesus?
Chorus: - Will you evade Him as Pilate tried? Or will you choose Him, whate’er betide?
Vainly you struggle from Him to hide: What will you do with Jesus?
Chorus: - Will you, like Peter, your Lord deny? Or will you scorn from His foes to fly,
Daring for Jesus to live or die? What will you do with Jesus?
Chorus: - “Jesus, I give Thee my heart today! Jesus, I’ll follow Thee all the way,
Gladly obeying Thee!” will you say: “This will I do with Jesus!”
Chorus: What will you do with Jesus my friend? Neutral you cannot be;
Some day your heart will be asking, “What will He do with me?”