The Path of Life

All paths do not lead to the same destination.  I had this confirmed for me when our family took a trip to the Red River Gorge in Kentucky.  We went to the Natural Bridge State Park to enjoy a bit of God’s Creation and went on what turned out to be several hiking trails.  My experience with hiking trails is limited and I’ve always thought that trails were designed to bring you right back where you began.  This time, however, that was not the case.

Some of the paths would, in fact, bring us right back to the place we started.  Some other paths brought us back to “civilization” but in a completely different spot from where we began - far away from our car.  One of the paths, though, really caught my attention.  It was a “dead end” that brought us out to a spot called “lovers leap.”  Once we reached the destination, there was nowhere else to go.

I have no idea what height the precipice was, but I’m quite confident that continuing on that path and leaping off the cliff would not end well.  It was certain death.

There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. (Proverbs 16:25 NIV)

The first time we enjoyed the views offered in this beautiful State Park, our family was much younger.  Our son was only two years old and loved to explore everything.  Our hearts would stop whenever he would find a “view” he wanted to see and walk right up to the edge of God’s stone-platform overlooking the sloping mountains below.  We thought it would be easier this time, now that he is seventeen.  Of course we were wrong.  The wonder of God’s creation still took him right up to the edge of cliff after cliff.  He thoroughly enjoyed the views on the walk.  We enjoyed when everyone was safely “down on the ground.”

Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path; the one who hates correction will die. (Proverbs 15:10 NIV)

I’m not sure why people believe that all paths lead to the same place.  It’s simply not true in life and it’s simply not true spiritually, either.  Sometimes paths bring us right back to where we started.  Sometimes paths bring us to a completely different place, but changed for the better.  Sometimes a path, when followed to its end, will lead to death.  Watching the decisions of the people in the world around us confirm that this is true.  I’m not really sure why we act like it is not.

In the way of righteousness there is life; along that path is immortality. (Proverbs 12:28 NIV)

God provides a path for us that is easy to see, easy to follow, filled with beautiful scenery, and always leads us to life rather than death.  He offers to walk with us every step of the way, while giving us the freedom to explore and enjoy at our own pace and in our own way.  His path always leads back to The Garden, even if it is in a different place than where we began; and we are always the better for the journey we took with Him.

You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way. (Psalms 18:36 NIV)

The best path to take is the one God is walking on.  It has nothing to do with it being less travelled than the others.  It has to do with where the path leads.  All paths do not lead to the same place, so the best path brings us back to The Garden.  When we walk together with God, we are sure to walk a path that gets us there.  He’s travelled the path before - probably with someone before us.  Even before that, He cleared the path so it would be easy for us to recognize and walk.  The path to take is always the path walking together with God.

You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. (Psalms 16:11 NIV)

How about you?  Do you walk the path of life?