The Right Path

                                                                                                                           

Aloha Dearest Family,

As we celebrate the New Year and make our new year's resolutions, I think the most important resolution that we can make is to ensure that we are on the right path in life. How important is this? Well, let me first share an incident from my own life.

Several years ago, when I was doing missionary work in Washington State, I went mushroom picking in the woods with a fellow believer. If you've ever been to the woods in Washington State, you know how extensive these woods can be. Well, during our mushroom picking, we separated and I continued on a certain path looking for more mushrooms. But when I tried to retrace my steps I found that I could not find the way back. After trying several paths that I thought would lead me out, I just became more and more confused. Each path looked like the right one. I then realized - I was lost.

This experience got me thinking of a verse in Proverbs, 

"There is a way which seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." (Proverbs 14:12) 

Everyone is on a path in life. The only question is, are we on the right one? If you choose the wrong one, you may find that it leads to despair, destruction or maybe even death. This proverb says that there is way that seems right to a man.... Every man chooses his own way and does what seems right in his own eyes, but many do not know (nor care) if they are on the right road. I've heard people say that "as long as you are happy in your own truth, it is OK". And still others say that it doesn't matter what path you take, it all leads to the same place. Is this true? What does the Bible say?

The truth of the matter is that man is not capable of finding the right way without help. God must show him the right path to take or he will remain lost. God has provided a way. 

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." (Psalm 119:105) 

God's Word is a light to our path so that we will see where we are going in life and so that we will not stumble along the way. God does not want us to walk around groping in the dark. He absolutely wants us to know the way. We cannot look 'within ourselves' for the answers as some have taught. The right way is found in God alone.

Jesus Christ taught about two gates that people take. One leads to life, the other to destruction.

 "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat. Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it." (Matthew 7:13, 14) 

There are not many roads. Jesus says that there only two. The reason why there are so many people on the road to destruction is that too many people think that their way is the right one. And the reason that few find the right road is that few look for it. The path is not hidden. They just need to look in the right place to find it. The book of Proverbs also speaks of these two paths.

"The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble." (Proverbs 4:18 and 19 NIV) 

The righteous take the path of righteousness and it gets brighter the longer you are on it. While the wicked stumble at what they cannot see because they walk in darkness.

We have been taught to "follow our hearts". But is this teaching correct? Scripture shows us that to follow the heart is not wise.

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9) 

God wants us to go down the right path. In fact He will show it to us,

"Thou wilt show me the path of life:..” (Psalm 16:11a) 

We must now ask ourselves, if we are not on the "path of life", which path are we on? God will not force us to choose the right path. He will never overstep our free will. He wants to direct our way if we first go to Him. But we must make the first step. (Proverbs 3:6).

So, there I was, lost in the Washington woods. I didn't know the way out, but I knew the one that did. So I asked God. I sat down, got quiet, and asked. And guess what? He told me which direction to go. As I followed God's direction I made it back.

How many people today are lost? Lots. How many need God's direction in life? All of us. God's Word is a light shining in a dark world showing us the way to go. Those who are truly lost in life need only to go to the 'trail-master' who not only knows the way, but who IS the Way. "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." This is the first step in finding the right path in life. Jesus Christ is "the way" to the Father - who is light and in Him is no darkness at all (I John 1:5). Here is where the path becomes clear and plain. Here is where we will find health, life, purpose and peace. For God's way is the way of peace. Let us dwell in the light of the scriptures, God's Word, and we will never be lost again.

Love Always and Happy New Year, Ray