Somewhere in this wide world of ours there is a
tombstone that reads:
Good News For Youth (GNFY) published under the oversight of the Alkire Rd Church of Christ elders and posted by permission of the editor.
Somewhere in this wide world of ours there is a
tombstone that reads:
Remember friend, when passing by
as
you are now, so once was I,
as I am now, soon you will be,
prepare for death and follow me.
An unknown passerby added the following inscription:
To follow you, I’m not content,
until I know which way you went!
We are all influenced by the lives of others. It is only human to follow the example of those we admire. But we must be very careful that those we are following are going in the right direction. Otherwise, we might end up some place where we do not want to be. "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man: but the end thereof are the ways of death" (Proverbs 14:12).
The apostle Paul wrote, "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ" (I Corinthians 11:1). Paul was a safe example to follow because he walked in the footsteps of Jesus. Jesus will lead us to eternal life. "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the father, but by me" (John 14:6). "This is the stone which was set at naught of your builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:11,12).
We are often tempted to follow the crowd. If so many others are doing something then it must be right. But doing something simply because others are doing it is a pretty stupid way to decide an issue. The problem is that the majority seldom is following the teachings of Jesus. "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat" (Matthew 7:13).
When you are included to accept something on the basis that society, or our peers accept it, remember the timely advice of the aforementioned passerby. We should not follows others, unless we are sure which way they are going.
-- Harve Smeltzer, September 2000 --
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