Retina Spots

(Pro 12:28 KJV)  In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.

As we read the Bible we come across many direct quotes from God and many proclamations that have the weight of God speaking.  Often we come across statements that seem precipitous.  If we take them in isolation they seem to be absolute and have a clear time frame.  There are many of them and if you pick carefully you are able to make some decisive statements about doctrine, morality and eschatology.  This is why we get an ever increasing number of denominations and many different schools of eschatology.  Too frequently these pinnacles are reached by ignoring other verses and statements of God.

Here we have a reference to “life” (2416) being tied to “righteousness” (6666).  You cannot deny the connection; it comes up too frequently.  The question is the timing.  This verse gives us a clue which we often do not find.  That clue comes in the promise of “no” (408) “death” (4194).  Since there are numerous references to people who are righteous and none of the ones mentioned in the Old Testament, except possibly Enoch and Elijah, are alive today, the death referred to here must involve eternity, not temporal existence.  

So?  Make sure that you allow the Bible to explain itself.  Keep in mind that most of the authorities, including me, have a point of view and seem to have spots on their spiritual retinas that have been burned out.