If you have ever been hiking or exploring, it doesn’t take too long to realize that, many times the start of a path is not indicative of its ending. Several years ago our family took a trip west. When we arrived at the Grand Canyon, we decided to spend a few days/nights camping in a primitive area. There were no facilities or people. The road that led to our site was the roughest road I’ve ever traveled. It was approximately 10 miles, yet took between 30-40 minutes to travel it. We set up camp and went to bed. The next morning, Butch got up earlier than the rest of us to take a walk. He walked down a relatively obscure, nondescript trail. But, after about a 5-10 minute walk, he came upon the beauty of the Grand Canyon. Later that evening, we all went down that same path to watch a spectacular sunset. When we set off on that trail, we had no idea of the beauty we would find at the other end.
There are similar paths in our journeys through life: paths that promise spectacular beauty at the end, though for all appearances, quite nondescript and uninviting at the start. But, the promise of what will be attained or experienced is what is desired so they set off.
When one begins to seek God, we begin a path that at the beginning looks vastly different than the various places along it. But, each place is more beautiful than the places we have been. When we begin to yearn for more of God, and are committed to stay on that path come what may, we WILL come into contact with a part of Him that has been either unknown to us or we have misunderstood. And at that point, we must reconcile what the Bible tells us with what our teaching/experience tells us….and…..which will we believe if they contradict each other. God is 3-in-1. He is fully Father God; fully Jesus, the Son; and fully Holy Spirit. We cannot embrace part of Him and keep the rest of Him at a distance. We must choose whether or not to stay on this path.
I have read through the New Testament nearly twice in the last 6-8 months, including several readings through the gospels and Acts. I see there a path that is a promising one, a path that I enthusiastically choose to follow. The life that I read about there is the life I want!!! WITHOUT QUESTION!! So, I choose this path, which is the path I stepped on several years ago when I first stated the words, “Lord, I want to be desperate for You. I want to know You more.”
And, there is where the caution comes in. This is where we are warned about “what lies down that path”. People have read of or heard numerous stories about people who have gone to an extreme because they began to seek the Holy Spirit, His gifts and manifestations. More recently, I began thinking about the paths we are all on, paths that all have dangers, casualties and tragedies along them. But, we still walk them. We choose to either ignore, discount or learn from those dangers. We don’t caution others against walking them.
Take for instance the path of nonresistance. We first step on that path when we embrace Christ’s admonition to:
“not resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other to him also.” Matt. 5:39
What extreme lies down that path? The belief that this means you cannot protect a child from being murdered because that would involved resisting an evil person. It involves believing we cannot defend an innocent life because we may take the life of someone else who is in an act of violence. But, we still travel walk the path of nonresistance.
Or, we step on the path of obedience through numerous verses that call us to it. Legalism lies all along this path. Legalism, judgmental and critical spirits and so forth. There are those on this path that believe that if had a spat with my husband and then had an accident at the end of my lane and died, I’d go to hell because I hadn’t been forgiven! More people are turned away from church and Christianity because of legalism than probably anything else, though I have no statistics. Yet, we still travel the path of obedience.
We begin on a path toward greater stewardship because Scripture calls us to it. But, greed is on that path. Farther down this path are churches that won’t open their doors to sinners because things might get messed up; or fail to give freely of their resources because it might not be used wisely. Yet, we are encouraged to walk this path.
The problem with all these paths is not the actual path but the fact that one has chosen a side-trail, or have failed to check in with our travel Guide at each step. But, all of us at one time or another has gotten off on a side-trail or we lose sight completely of the real trail thinking we are following it. But, unfortunately, all of us have far less grace for those who get off a path they are traveling. This is especially true if we erroneously believe that’s where that particular trail ends. Yet we believe our side-trails are insignificant. We know them to be side-trails, not the end of the path we are on. We scorn churches who believe tongues are proof of salvation and require it of all members. Yet, we fail to see that we have our own proofs. If you want to be honest, there are numerous scriptures that say that signs and wonders are a proof of believers and there are numerous scriptures that say obedience is a proof.
Earlier in our trip west, we had enjoyed numerous walks through Yellowstone Park. One of the spots we were at is called Inspiration Point in the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. It was beautiful…..very aptly named. Just yesterday, we read of an 18 year old who walked off the trail at that very spot….and fell 400 feet to her death. Unbeknownst to her, she was walking on loose rock that gave way underneath her. Would any warn others to not go to Inspiration Point because of this death? I doubt it. People die in the Grand Canyon every year, yet almost everyone longs to go there.
Every path we travel is surrounded by loose rocks that can give way if we walk very long off that path. If you have traveled the path that I have chosen, I long to hear more of what to look out for. But, if you haven’t, don’t warn me…..you don’t know what is on that path. Plus, I might miss out on something spectacular that He has in store for me. But, you can come with me and we’ll learn together if you like. More eyes and ears makes for safer travel, I’m told.
I will trust wholeheartedly in the wisdom of my Travel Guide. He will direct my path. He has so far. I firmly believe that He knows more about my path through life, and it’s side-trails, than I do.