“Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.” (Proverbs 4:26-27 NLT)
Did you choose the path of your life or did your path choose you? Is the direction your life is heading going to lead to life or death? Sickness or health? Happiness or heartache? Is the path you’re following leading to a place of your choosing or is it simply the default end to an aimless life?
In Proverbs 5:6 Solomon wrote in reference to an immoral woman: “Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave. For she cares nothing about the path to life. She staggers down a crooked trail and doesn’t realize it.” The sad reality is these words can describe far more people than an immoral woman.
That could describe many in our families, workplaces, neighborhoods, schools, and places of recreation. Most people in the world today fall into this category – thoughtlessly following the path of least resistance because it seems right or feels right but is leading them to a Christless eternity. We choose the difficult path when we choose Jesus!
When Jesus walked earth’s pathways, He had intent in every step. Nothing was by accident, and nothing caught Him by surprise. His path was planned and followed with thoughtfulness from start to finish and as Jesus followers our paths should be followed with purpose-filled intent as well.
Why do we do the things we do? Don’t they deserve our best efforts? Shouldn’t they be thought out with purposeful consideration? Why are you getting up in the morning? To go to work? Why? And why there? Are you raising a family? Why? With what purposeful end? Are you retired? Why? With what end in mind? What do you believe will happen if we don’t think about these things?
As you stand at the end of your life are you filled with regret over all you could have or should have done? Why? Was it because you didn’t give it enough thought when you were younger? Is it too late to do anything about it?
Today I remembered with regret how I treated pets and people during my life. Obviously, there’s nothing I can do about that…or is there? If we don’t learn from our mistakes, what are we destined to do with them? Repeat them! But what if today, right now, in this exact moment we thoughtfully considered our next step – where is it leading? Why am I taking this step? Do I have any options? Will the next step I take lead me to a purposeful end?
If we don’t ponder the direction of the path we’re on, who will? If we’re not intentional about the logical end to which our path is leading, why not? And yes, of course, there are things over which we have no control, but there are many more over which we do have control. Your eternal destiny is completely in your control! It’s your decision, no one else’s.
Whether you get fired from your job, have an accident on your way to church, or drive through rain are likely not decisions you will make for yourself, but whether you buy a pet, eat ham for dinner, or go to hell ARE very much your decision.
Too often we give more thought to what ingredients go into a casserole than what steps we need to take to live a holy life. Please, for Christ’s sake, pay attention to where you’re going! Carefully ponder where the decisions you’re making today are leading you. Think before you speak to your spouse, your child, your neighbor, your boss, and every other person to whom you’ll speak today. Don’t carelessly change the course of your life over something stupid.
If you don’t ponder your path, who will?
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 