Lifes Crossroad

Introduction

It doesnt matter who you are. It doesnt matter your background, your religion or gender or even your political affilliation. EVERYONE WANTS TO BE HAPPY. Nobody enjoys being sad or down. Happiness is a feeling that lead you to your greatest moments but also when you strive for happiness it can lead you to your darkest valleys.

1.6 BIllion dollars. Let me say that again. thats billion with a b. I saw an article that said all the reasons that the lottery wouldnt make your life any better or happier. HAHA. I say let me test that theory. Ha but the truth is that I am convinced that it would ultimately not make me happier.

You really only have two decisions in life. We make this complicated so much and it is at times, but in reality there is a crossroads that we come to many times in our life and it is the crossroads of righteousness and sin.

We dont often view that decision as being happy or not but in reality Psalter is opened up with this great Psalm in that tells us the great source of happiness. So who wants to leave happy this morning? Lets look at God’s word and He can tell us how.

Psalm 1:1–6 NIV

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.

PRAY

1. True happiness can only come from god.

1. True happiness can only come from god.

This word blessed is the same word that is used for happy or happiness. We see this in deuteronomy and in many places in Psalms. We also see the greek translation of this word in in the beatitudes.

People often say they are blessed but are they really? Are they really happy?

I am thankful this morning that the verse starts with blessed is the one instead of “the one might be blessed” or “ you could be blessed”. It is a Promise. A promise from God through the Psalmist to God’s people.

Outside of God though, this promise doesnt exist. You can never find happiness and blessing outside of God.

Now I know what your thinking. TJ there are plenty of people that arent Christians but they are happy. Like MJ but all of his possesions and all of his trophies mean nothing. it is all shirt lived in the light of eternity.

We have to view blessing as an eternal thing and not just what happens here. It is here and hereafter.

The promise only comes from God. The only real happiness comes from him. So stop looking at drugs and alcohol. Stop looking at sinful relationships. They do not lead to happiness they lead to death and the Psalmist shows us how.

That happiness looks a lot more like righteousness than anything else.

Stop being more concerned with happiness than your righteousness.

Look at verse 1

Psalm 1:1 NIV

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,

Tripp and throwing the ball.

Notice the progression that takes place here. Th psalmist is describing the natural progression of sin right? At first we are waking in step with sin. We know its wrong, but we like what it offers. We begin to think about it more and more and entertain the idea of what this sin could bring us. Then we take the next step after we entertain it long enough. We start to stand with the path of the sin. We have stopped walking and are now getting comfortable. We still know its wrong, but hey we can repent later or the classic “no one will ever find out”. The last and final step is sitting. We look lke sin now. No one can tell the difference in me and sin. It has marked and define my life and I have no interest in turning to God.

You see how that happens. Have you seen that same progression in your own life?

2. The more comfortable you get with your sin, the harder it is to turn back towards God.

So if I am suppose to be turning from these things. if I am suppose to abandon sin, then how can I do that? How can I see the ways that God wants me to go in? How am I suppose to know all these answers? Im glad you asked. Look back at verse 2-3

Psalm 1:2–3 NIV

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.

So first of all, what is the Law of the Lord? The author of the Psalm new exactly what he is writing and that word Law is Torah. It is the books of Moses. The commands that God gave his people.

Listen to me very close. Outside of this (Bible) you cannot live a life honoring to God. You will never receive complete blessing from God living outside of His word! Its more than just love and peace. It is more than just kind words. Its Giod’s word.

3. Blessing and happiness lies within God’s Word.

3. Blessing and happiness lies within God’s Word.

The picture we get here is someone who is absolutely in love with scripture. delighting, meditating.

Then look what comes next, STRENGTH.

Gods word is a source of life.

prosper.

Now before you think that I preach a gospel that says salvation comes from reading Gods words and good works. i am not saying that.

As a matter of fact I recognize with many of you when say it times it is a real struggle to choose the path of righteousness.

2. The more comfortable you get with your sin, the harder it is to turn back towards god.

So how do I choose him when I dont necessarily want to.

lets finish with verse 4-6

Psalm 1:4–6 NIV

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.

Just so the Psalmist is clear, choosing sin will lead to death.

Jesus made a way for righteousness.

(NIV)

24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 25 For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.