Steps to Death

Luke 22:4

And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.

Judas Iscariot will always be remembered as the greatest traitor of all time. He walked with Jesus for three years and saw every miracle that Jesus performed. For three years, he had the opportunity to see the Saviour’s heart. For three years, he saw every life that was miraculously changed. For three years, he heard every sermon that Jesus preached, and heard in those sermons the great truths that are constantly repeated today in every sermon that men of God preach. Yet, Judas strayed and eventually found himself in Hell. Yes, the first mistake was that he never accepted Christ as His Saviour, but there was a pathway he took that many believers who destroy their lives in sin seem to follow. Let me share the four steps he took that led to his death.

First, he went his way. Instead of following the Saviour’s way, he chose to go his way. God says about our way in Proverbs 16:25, There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Many have gone their way only to find it was the first step towards death. It does not matter how good you think your way is; your way is headed toward heartache if your way is not the way God wants you to walk. Many have gone their way only to see it was not the right way after they arrived at heartache. You never get to the destination of your way immediately. The destination of your way, no matter how right it feels, will always be the wrong way if it is not God’s way of living. If you never take the first step on your way, you will never arrive at the destination of death that your way brings.

Second, his way led to the wrong friends. Notice that Judas went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains. You will always find the wrong friends when walking your way. You see, your way is a selfish way, and the selfish way always leads to the wrong friends. You will never find the right friends who will push you to do right when you are walking your way. You only find the right friends who influence you for right by walking the Saviour’s way.

Third, the wrong friends led to the wrong conclusions. These chief priests that Judas communed with led him to desire money more than the Saviour. You cannot commune with the disgruntled and critics without becoming disgruntled and critical of the old paths. Many think they need to talk to the other side to find out what they think of those who have trained us in the old paths, but that mentality has always led a person to become a part of the crowd that hates the old paths. You can't get your information from the skunks without getting the stink of the skunk on you. We don't need to talk to the chief priests and captains of our day to find out about which way to walk; we need to talk to Jesus and those who are friendly with Him to find the right way of life.

Fourth, the wrong conclusions from the wrong friends always leads to seeking an opportunity to betray your heritage. Once the wrong crowd has tainted your mindset towards the right way, you will seek an opportunity to leave that way for worldly living. You can follow your feelings, but it only leads to death. You will always find a reason to leave the right way if you are seeking for it, but that does not make it right.

My friend, stop looking for your way and surrender to walking God’s way. You will never regret walking God’s way when you find the joy that His way brings.