Have you ever heard the phrase “a fork in the road”? It is an expression, describing a moment in someone’s life when a life changing decision must be made. That decision will then change the direction of your future. A “fork in the road” is a defining moment in a person’s life.
From the beginning of his assignment in the Garden, Adam had, what we call, free will. But remember that free will only means the freedom to make our own decisions but doesn’t free us from the consequences of those decisions!
When the Lord God placed man in the Garden, He gave these instructions: Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” Genesis 2:15-17 Adam had the opportunity to follow God’s instruction or not. That was Adam’s “fork in the road”. He chose to listen to "the woman God gave him" rather than obey God’s instruction. That was a bad decision and he took the wrong “fork”.
There was a religious leader by the name of Nicodemus, who came to his fork in the road. There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’” John 3:1-7
By the way, even our Lord and King Jesus came to several forks in the road, by way of temptations. Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights He fasted and became very hungry. During that time the devil came and said to Him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”
But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Then the devil took Him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say,
‘He will order His angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’”
Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’”
Next the devil took Him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “I will give it all to You,” he said, “if You will kneel down and worship me.”
“Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only Him.’”
Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.
Matthew 4:1-11 NLT
Then and only then, was He ready for His assignment. Yes, a fork in the road is also a test before stepping into your assignment! Keep in mind that the Lord Jesus had a choice to obey or disobey. Understand this: the fork in the road is your decision to obey His Word and His Will fully. It is your moment to love His commands and make the right decision in obedience. When the King speaks, it is not subjective, but a law.
In that moment when you are faced with the temptation of cheating on your spouse or obeying the Lord God’s command—“You shall not commit adultery”—that is a fork in your road. God’s laws are not optional. His laws are to help us live a victorious life in His Kingdom. There are those who claim to be religious who do cheat on their spouse, but not a Kingdom citizen—one who is filled with the Holy Spirit as Governor over their life.
If you want to know whether someone is religious or a Kingdom citizen, watch their actions. Do they “move the line” concerning God’s laws and principles? Do they change God’s Word to fit their lifestyle? There are those who claim to love the Lord God, but are quick to lie when it is convenient for them, but not a citizen of the Kingdom. Living by the King’s command is a way of life for them. It is their lifestyle. They do not live one life in the church and another life outside of the church. Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:15-17
Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? James 4:4-5
“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24
There are many Believers who, when they come to their fork in the road, make a poor choice, either because they don’t have the Holy Spirit in them or they fail to listen and be guided by Him. The question is, are you seeking God’s Kingdom or religious acceptance from those around you? King Jesus made our priorities very clear: But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33 Your only protection from outside forces in this world is to be in God’s Kingdom. You never need to concern yourself with sickness, lack of finances, hunger, attacks from the enemy, or any other thing needed to survive and thrive. To be in right-standing in God’s Kingdom only requires that our first priority is seeking after His Kingdom and His righteousness. That is to be our focus. Our Lord and King will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory. Ambassador Paul stated it here: Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:18-19
For those who feel the Lord God has called you to preach and teach, if it isn’t God’s Kingdom message, it is the wrong message. It is religious. If you are feeling led by the Holy Spirit to travel and speak God’s Kingdom message, He will provide for all your needs without asking others for finances. If He is leading, He is providing. He is not calling you to go on a fundraising campaign. If He has given you an assignment, don’t you believe He has already prepared for your financial needs? Our need to "make it happen" shows a lack of the supernatural power of our Lord and King! If things aren't going to our plan, we take control and try to "help" God along. Sometimes we make God small in our life! Chasing finances to fund “God’s assignment” for you is definitely the wrong fork in the road! Step out, doing what He has called you to do, with what He has already provided! Work that. When He provides more, do more! At least you will already be moving down the right road. Remember the words the Lord Jesus spoke to His disciples as you go: "And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
"Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.
“Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. And when you go into a household, greet it. If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!” Matthew 10:7-15
Do not be distracted by religion’s presentation of what ministry is supposed to look like. Jesus never did! Remember that sometimes, in a fork in the road, the wrong road looks enticing and distracting from the true and right way!
Always remember in this life’s journey that your faith in His Word is your greatest asset in God’s Kingdom.
All scriptures are NKJV unless noted
W.R. Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
This article may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are included at the end of the article as originally placed. Thank you.
From the beginning of his assignment in the Garden, Adam had, what we call, free will. But remember that free will only means the freedom to make our own decisions but doesn’t free us from the consequences of those decisions!
When the Lord God placed man in the Garden, He gave these instructions: Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” Genesis 2:15-17 Adam had the opportunity to follow God’s instruction or not. That was Adam’s “fork in the road”. He chose to listen to "the woman God gave him" rather than obey God’s instruction. That was a bad decision and he took the wrong “fork”.
There was a religious leader by the name of Nicodemus, who came to his fork in the road. There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’” John 3:1-7
By the way, even our Lord and King Jesus came to several forks in the road, by way of temptations. Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights He fasted and became very hungry. During that time the devil came and said to Him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”
But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Then the devil took Him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say,
‘He will order His angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’”
Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’”
Next the devil took Him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “I will give it all to You,” he said, “if You will kneel down and worship me.”
“Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only Him.’”
Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.
Matthew 4:1-11 NLT
Then and only then, was He ready for His assignment. Yes, a fork in the road is also a test before stepping into your assignment! Keep in mind that the Lord Jesus had a choice to obey or disobey. Understand this: the fork in the road is your decision to obey His Word and His Will fully. It is your moment to love His commands and make the right decision in obedience. When the King speaks, it is not subjective, but a law.
In that moment when you are faced with the temptation of cheating on your spouse or obeying the Lord God’s command—“You shall not commit adultery”—that is a fork in your road. God’s laws are not optional. His laws are to help us live a victorious life in His Kingdom. There are those who claim to be religious who do cheat on their spouse, but not a Kingdom citizen—one who is filled with the Holy Spirit as Governor over their life.
If you want to know whether someone is religious or a Kingdom citizen, watch their actions. Do they “move the line” concerning God’s laws and principles? Do they change God’s Word to fit their lifestyle? There are those who claim to love the Lord God, but are quick to lie when it is convenient for them, but not a citizen of the Kingdom. Living by the King’s command is a way of life for them. It is their lifestyle. They do not live one life in the church and another life outside of the church. Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:15-17
Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? James 4:4-5
“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24
There are many Believers who, when they come to their fork in the road, make a poor choice, either because they don’t have the Holy Spirit in them or they fail to listen and be guided by Him. The question is, are you seeking God’s Kingdom or religious acceptance from those around you? King Jesus made our priorities very clear: But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33 Your only protection from outside forces in this world is to be in God’s Kingdom. You never need to concern yourself with sickness, lack of finances, hunger, attacks from the enemy, or any other thing needed to survive and thrive. To be in right-standing in God’s Kingdom only requires that our first priority is seeking after His Kingdom and His righteousness. That is to be our focus. Our Lord and King will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory. Ambassador Paul stated it here: Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:18-19
For those who feel the Lord God has called you to preach and teach, if it isn’t God’s Kingdom message, it is the wrong message. It is religious. If you are feeling led by the Holy Spirit to travel and speak God’s Kingdom message, He will provide for all your needs without asking others for finances. If He is leading, He is providing. He is not calling you to go on a fundraising campaign. If He has given you an assignment, don’t you believe He has already prepared for your financial needs? Our need to "make it happen" shows a lack of the supernatural power of our Lord and King! If things aren't going to our plan, we take control and try to "help" God along. Sometimes we make God small in our life! Chasing finances to fund “God’s assignment” for you is definitely the wrong fork in the road! Step out, doing what He has called you to do, with what He has already provided! Work that. When He provides more, do more! At least you will already be moving down the right road. Remember the words the Lord Jesus spoke to His disciples as you go: "And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
"Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.
“Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. And when you go into a household, greet it. If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!” Matthew 10:7-15
Do not be distracted by religion’s presentation of what ministry is supposed to look like. Jesus never did! Remember that sometimes, in a fork in the road, the wrong road looks enticing and distracting from the true and right way!
Always remember in this life’s journey that your faith in His Word is your greatest asset in God’s Kingdom.
All scriptures are NKJV unless noted
W.R. Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
This article may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are included at the end of the article as originally placed. Thank you.
