There is a better way. - Isaiah 55:6-11

In 1969 Frank Sinatra released a signature song that still resonates with listeners today. Ol' Blue Eyes sang, “Regrets, I've had a few But then again, too few to mention I did what I had to do And saw it through without exemption I planned each charted course Each careful step along the byway And more, much more than this I did it my way.”  Sinatra’s song, "My Way" is the ultimate anthem of self-determination.  It has become a symbol of unapologetic individualism, stubborn independence, and defiant self-governance.  Sinatra’s sounds like a person who took charge of their life, made their own decisions, and refused to apologize for the path they chose.  And we like that; we like the idea of doing it my way. 

The idea of doing it my way has resonated with humanity long before The Sultan of Swoon started singing about it.  From the very beginning mankind has been singing this song.  Adam and Eve sang it in the garden of Eden as did their son Cain.  Hundreds of thousands if not millions were singing this song as Noah and his family boarded the ark.  The Patriarch Abram sang this song with his mistress when God was taking too long to keep his promise.  King David sang this song as he seduced Bathsheba into his bedroom.  The prophet Jonah sang this song aboard a ship sailing away from Ninevah.   The disciple Judas sang this song for 30 pieces of silver.  Mankind has been singing this song for centuries and we are still singing it today.

Teenagers who are convinced they know everything and their parents know nothing sing this song when they dishonor, disobey, and disrespect their parents, their teachers, and others whom God has placed in authority over them.  Young couples whose loins burn with anticipation sing this song when they ignore God’s plan for a man and a woman to be united as husband and wife before they unite their flesh.  Middle aged people who are driven by accomplishment and success sing this song as they neglect family, friends, and faith to get ahead and get more.  Older people who have become set in their ways sing this song as they grumble and complain when things aren’t done their way and people don’t do what they want them to do. 

As a pastor I have heard people of all ages sing this song.  It is easy for me to recognize the melody, because as a person I have sung the song a time or two myself.  I sing it when I am being selfish and self-centered.  I sing it when I am puffed up with pride and arrogance.  I sing it when I want to gratify the desires of my sinful flesh and pursue personal pleasure.  I sing it when I want to hold on to a grudge and harbor bitterness.  I have sung this song a thousand different times in a thousand different ways and so have you. 

Again, and again, and again we have done it our way.  And again, and again, and again our way has brought us nothing but pain and sorrow.  Adam and Eve were kicked out of Eden and Cain was cast out from God’s presence.  The multitudes in the days of Noah were drowned by floodwaters.  Sarah made Abram send his mistress and her son away.  Guilt over what he had done to Bathsheba and her husband was a crushing burden for David.  Jonah got swallowed by a fish.  Judas went out and hung himself. 

Throughout human history doing it my way has brought pain and sorrow.  We know this … and yet … we keep singing.  We sing it even though it damages and destroys our relationships with our friends and our family.  We sing it even though it causes us emotional distress and physical harm.  We sing it even though it contaminates and corrupts our immortal soul.  Every time I have done it my way it has brought me pain and suffering and I know the same is true for you because that is where the sinful way leads.  It leads to pain and suffering; sometimes immediately, sometimes eventually but always in the end doing it “my way” leads to pain and suffering. 

But my dear friends, there is another way; a better way.  There is the LORD’s way.  From the pages of scripture, the prophet Isaiah cries out to you and to me, “6 Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.  7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.”   Through the prophet the LORD calls upon us to forsake our wicked ways and seek His way because His way leads to mercy and pardon. 

There was one who perfectly followed the ways of the LORD all the days of his life.  He perfectly honored his mother and father and those in authority.  He perfectly resisted the temptations of the flesh.  When tempted with gold and glory He told the devil to get behind Him.  He never made it to old age, but while He lived there wasn’t a selfish or self-centered bone in His body.  He of all people had something to boast and brag about but He never allowed Himself to be puffed up with arrogance and pride.  And even though He was betrayed, abandoned, and beaten to death He refused to hold a grudge or harbor bitterness.  Jesus did it the LORD’s way, and because He did, the LORD promises mercy and pardon for all of us who have tried to do it “my way”.

The LORD calls us to forsake our ways and follow His better way, because unlike our way, the LORD’s way leads to peace and happiness.  Sometimes immediately, sometimes eventually, but always in the end, doing it the LORD’s way leads to peace and happiness.   “8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.  9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”   The LORD is smarter than we are.  Seriously He is.  Like a lot smarter.  The LORD is so much smarter than we are that sometimes, many times, oftentimes, we don’t understand the wisdom of His ways.

Building an ark on dry land in a world that had never seen rain must have seemed like a silly way to do things that is until the waters of the deep gushed forth and the rains started to fall.  Marching troops around the walls of Jericho must have seemed foolish until those walls came tumbling down.  Sending a little shepherd boy to fight a giant must have seemed laughable until the giant fell at the shepherd’s feet.  And allowing humanities champion to be nailed to a cross, well that had to seem utterly ridiculous … until that champion rose from the dead. 

Likewise, submitting to an authority, preserving virginity, making faith, family, and friends your top priority, and having the humility to admit your way might not be the only right way might seem silly, foolish, laughable, or ridiculous until you are able to see all the ways you are being blessed when you follow the LORD’s way. When you treat people the way the LORD tells you to treat people your relationships are better.  When you take care of yourself the way the LORD tells you to take care of yourself you are better.  When you nurture and nourish your faith the way the LORD tells you to nurture and nourish your faith your soul is better.  Turns out when teenagers, and young couples, and middle-aged people and old timers follow the LORD’s way their life is significantly happier and full of peace.  You know this to be true.  You have experienced it for yourself. Look back through all the ups and downs of life, examine the good times and the bad and you will see that through it all the LORD’s way was the better way. You don’t have to understand the wisdom of His ways, but human history and your own experience time and time again has shown, the LORD’s way is always the better way. 

Thankfully the LORD makes His way known to us through His word.  Through the prophet the LORD says to us, “10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”  The LORD’s word is like a refreshing shower that guides and directs us along the way.  In Scripture the LORD has something to say about every aspect of your life.  You need relationship advice, marriage advice, parenting advice, romantic advice, business advice, friendship advice, health advice, financial advice, mental or emotional advice – the LORD has something to say about a better way.

So, let me ask you, how is your devotional life?  I am glad you are here right now learning more about the LORD’s way, but what are you going to do tomorrow, and the day after that, and all the days until next Sunday?  The devil, the world, and your sinful flesh are all hoping between now and next Sunday you will lose your way.  If you are not in the word of God it is shockingly easy to go astray.  Going an entire week without being in the word of God is like traveling through the Atlanta airport without checking the signs to make sure you are going the right way.  You might fly in and out of the Atlanta airport every week but still you don’t get off the tram without checking for directions.  You don’t wander down the first terminal you see without checking directions.  You don’t sit down at a random gate without checking directions.  You might have a pretty good idea where you are going but if you try navigating the ATL without checking directions you are going to miss your flight.  Given our history of following our own way, doesn’t it make sense that we would repeatedly and regular check the scriptures to make sure we are going the LORD’s way?

Making time for God’s word keeps us going the better way.  So let me make some suggestions for the week ahead.  On Monday read and meditate on the 10 commandments.  On Tuesday seek guidance in the book of Proverbs.  Wednesday allow the psalms to sooth your soul.  On Thursday learn humility and Patience from Job.  On Friday gain perspective from Ecclesiastes.  On Saturday pick a gospel any gospel and learn anew just how much your Savior loves you.  Repeat this reading plan or one like it week after week and you will learn how to more closely follow the LORD’s better way.

Frank Sinatra’s way was a path filled with fame and fortune but in the end Frankie Boy’s way, according to biographers, led to abuse of alcohol and pain killers.  By his own description he was manically depressed and reportedly attempted suicide on multiple occasions.  He was divorced three times and at the end was estranged from his children.  I don’t know the state of Sinatra’s soul, I truly do hope despite everything He knew Jesus, but it appears that Frank’s way was not a good way.  Frank’s way, my way, your way never works out in the end.  The way of sin always leads to pain and sorrow.  Thankfully we have a better way, the LORD’s way.  Therefore, brothers and sisters, let us seek the LORD while He may be found and call on Him while He is near.  Let us forsake our evil ways and follow His better way.  Amen.