Finding the right path and staying on it!

Finding the right path and staying on it!

This summer, while on vacation in Colorado, Grant and I had the privilege of going hiking with my 80 years old dad in the Colorado wilderness.  Almost every year, since before I was born, my father has gone to Colorado in October to elk hunt.  Every year trees fall across the trail due to storms and old age, and must be cut out of the path for the pack horses to get through.  So our job was walking up the trail and clearing the path – not an easy task.  As we walked and talked we came to a spot in the forest that the path we were on disappeared due to all of the under growth.  We all begin walking around looking for what we thought was the right path.  With some luck we found it, and were successful at reaching the elk camp.

                Take a look at Psalms 1: Oh, the joys of those who do not follow evil men’s advice, who do not hang around with sinners, scoffing at the things of God.  But they delight in doing everything God wants them to, and day and night are always meditating on his laws and thinking about ways to follow him more closely.  They are like trees along a river bank bearing luscious fruit each season without fail.  Their leaves shall never wither, and all they do shall prosper.  But for sinners, what a different story!  They blow away like chaff before the wind.  They are not safe on Judgment Day; they shall not stand among the godly.  For the Lord watches over all the plans and paths of Godly men, but the paths of the godless lead to doom.

                If you stop and looked at your life right now, what path would you discover? The right path or one that is leading you into destruction?  Who is on the path with you?  Are they like minded and leading you to Christ, or are you following evil men’s advice?  Slowly read through this passage once again, pausing and letting each verse sink in.   For those that seek to follow after God, great things are in their future.  But for those that choose to go on a different path – bad things are in store.  If you find yourself on the wrong path stop.  Begin walking/looking around for the right path.  Sometimes we have to place our trust in God and switch paths.  Later we look back and discover that was the best decision we could have made.   

                I was thankful that I had my 80 year old father on the trail with us that day.  Once we found the trail again, he knew we were on the right path that would lead us to elk camp.  Without his guidance I might still be in the mountains of Colorado looking for the right path.  Our journey is to be one that we find joy on.  Look around you this week.  Who do you see is going down the wrong path?  What can you do to help them?    See you on the path.

for the journey…

Mike