Pathways

There are so many different paths for us to choose in this life. The choices can seem unending. I always tell my kids as we get older the paths we choose have a much greater impact on our future. What are the different paths that can be taken?

There is a wrong path. The challenge in this life is how do we discern if we are on the wrong one. Some pathways may look wonderful. It might be our "knight in shinning armor", a path that looks smooth, beautiful with flowers and sunshine, it may be attractive, appealing and agreeable. But - in the end, it's not. Unfortunately, the way leading to destruction is usually not accompanied by A HUGE NEON SIGN that identifies it as "THE WAY OF DEATH." Some things are not what they seem. Let us look beyond appearances, as far as we can! Let us study deeper going beyond the first impressions. Let us try to find out, FOR SURE, that which is good. "Test all things; hold fast what is good," 2 Thessalonians 5:21."Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God ... because many false prophets have gone out into the world," 1 John 4:1. FOR, "there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death."

Sometimes we are on the right path, but we take a detour. We began to "walk a guilty distance" from what we know to be truth. We walk away from something that was once intimate in our life. Strayed off the pathway of God's intended will for us. "Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil." Proverbs 4:25-27. When we step off the path, hopefully we can experience the love of another beliver found in James 5:19-20 "My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins." The "someone" in this scripture is someone who cared and who was faithful to be obedient to God and speak truth into another's life. Always strive to be that someone!

Finally, there is the right pathway. The Bible urges us to develop such virtues as RESPONSIBILITY, HONESTY, LOYALTY, FAITHFULNESS AND LOVE. Whether you are reading the teachings of Christ, in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, the epistles, the writings of Old Testament prophets or the wisdom of Proverbs, you are trained in these and other virtues. The Bible is the instruction manual for us. The Bible not only gives us instruction on virtues, throughout His word we find truths to make us aware of potential dangers. Proverbial statements; lengthy illustrations, and warning signs --- designed and given, to awaken us. "I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths." Proverbs 4:11  God desires for us to be on the path full of His direction, contentment, joy, and a hunger to spend eternity with Him.

Jesus said, "I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE. NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER, EXCEPT THROUGH ME," (Jno. 14:6). What pathway are you on now?  Do you need to step off the current path you're on and get on the right one, do you need to turn around and come back to God, or are you walking firmly on the beautiful pathway to Christ?.

THE PATH
Walking this path I feel all alone
I hear birds in a distance of heavenly tones
To my confusion I come to a stop
I rest my body upon a rock

Out in the distance I see a tree
Splitting two paths, which one is me

Looking afar but far I can not see
What lay ahead both sides of this tree

I round the world with all I know
I push from the rock to find a lamps glow
With each step the light gets brighter
Two paths the same, now one is wider
Free in mind and my spirit the same
I will follow your path in Jesus’ name

Timothy Johnson