There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways, but a good man will be satisfied from above himself (Prov 14:12,14).
This proverb reflects the fact that natural man is born with a sinful nature imputed him at birth because of the Fall in Eden, and therefore must be spiritually reborn in order to be reconciled with God. So it is ways which seem right to a man are not the ways of God who reminds us, “My thoughts are not yours, neither are your ways My ways” (Isa 55:8). Even after being “born again” to use the words of Jesus (John 3:3), one must put to death thoughts and deeds of the flesh with the help of the Holy Spirit (Ro 8:13) and resist from reverting to old ways. The way to avoid falling away from intimacy with Christ is to be satisfied with grace (divine influence on the heart) received “from above himself” and live in obedience to that grace by power of the Holy Spirit. This involves dying to self which is the heart of obedience, and keeping the mind renewed through washing daily in the water of God’s Word.
