Is it the Journey or the Destination That Matters?

by SisterLisa

You may have heard people say that it's the journey that matters and not the destination, however in some cases I disagree. There are people who pride themselves in living a 'good life' but that doesn't mean they will get to heaven when they die. People have the misconception that their 'good outweighs their bad' and that simply is not true.

Who are we to judge for ourselves if we have lived a life that is not only acceptable but also pleasing unto the Lord? Who are we to decide on our own that we have done enough for Him or that our works are 'good enough to be with Him for eternity'?

Something that made me think was when I saw Pastor Ray Comfort explain about the Ten Commandments. When he speaks to people about their eternal security he asks about the Ten Commandments. He asks if they even know the Ten Commandments. If you do not know the Ten Commandments then how do you know you have lived by them or if you have violated them?

When people say they 'live a good life' he goes through each of the Commandments and asks if they have obeyed them. There are a few that we all have committed and I believe they are 'Thou shalt not lie', 'thou shalt not covet', and 'thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain'. We have all lied, wanted what someone else has, and used the Lord's name improperly.

"No way I certainly have not!"

Well let's take a minute to think this through. Have you ever told your family, when they answered the phone, "Tell them I'm not home."? Have you convinced your children or siblings that really is a Santa Clause or Tooth Fairy? Have you ever not told the 'entire' truth?

Have you ever seen something at the store and thought "I want that!"? What about the possessions that your neighbors and friends have? Ever have a covetous thought about why 'she gets the bigger house and I don't'?

Have you ever said, "Oh G*d!" when angry or scared? What about, "Oh J*sus"? What about , "What in G*d's name?" or "Oh L*rdy!"?

These are just the tip of the iceberg. Any violation of the Ten Commandments is a violation of God's law plain and simple. We are to have no other gods before Him, yet how often have you turned on your computer or read the newspaper before truning to God's Word for your morning inspiration?

Maybe this seems too 'legalistic' to you, but yet how does God view our obedience or rather disobedience? Yes this is why my articles are called 'The Fact of the Matter'. They are meant to grab your attention and give you a good challenge to step up in your walk with the Lord. My articles are just as convicting to me as they may be to you.

As we enter a new year may we take a deeper look into our lives and ask the Lord to show us where we can improve. Maybe you say, "Oh good heavens no I don't want to be told what I need to change. I have enough to deal with as it is." Yet that's the kind of attitude that stops growth. You may think ignorance is bliss, but God does not miss a beat.

So is it just the journey that matters? No, because we all need to KNOW that we will be entering heaven one day.

1 John 5:13, "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God."

Is it the destination alone that matters? No, because although we may accept the Lord's death on the cross as the payment for our sins, believe on Him in our hearts as our personal Saviour, we still displease God each day and suffer consequences for our disobedience.

Romans 5:19, "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." Hebrews 2:1-3, "¹Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

²For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward;

³How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;"

Galatians 6:7, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 2 Corinthians 9:6, "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully."

Whatever we sow we will also reap. If you sow disobedience we reap disobedience. If we sow an obedient spirit we reap the benefits given to those who walk in obedience.

We know that we are born sinners, yet once we have received the grace of God's gift, His precious Son, then we have forgiveness of sin. Yet we must also CONTINUE therein. To trust Christ as Saviour means to REPENT of the life of habitual sin and strive to live in accordance with God's Word. Trusting Jesus as Saviour is not just a get out of Hell card. Accepting Christ is accepting His law and choosing to walk toward Him and with Him.

We willfully chose to disobey, yet if we are willing to quickly repent and seek forgiveness He bestows His grace upon us. He knows we will make mistakes, but we must also be willing to rectify those mistakes by immediately confessing to Him and to another godly person for accountability.

James 5:16, "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

So in my opinion it is BOTH the journey AND the destination that matters.

Sisterlisa is the owner and Editor-in-Chief of Growing in Grace Magazine and owner of AGMinistries, a devotion blog for women. She is married and homeschools her four children while remaining active in community service and leads the deaf ministry at her church.