“Only
be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which
Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the
left, so that you may have success wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart from
your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be
careful to do according to all that is written in it; for them you shall make
your way prosperous, and then you will have success.” Joshua 1:7-8
Now, there is nothing more thrilling than
wanting to explore the “unknown.” As an
avid hiker and outdoor enthusiast, I scoff at the notion of “sticking to the ‘preset’
path”. Where is the fun in that?? That’s no challenge! I like to veer off the trailhead and have a
good look around. There is a time and
place for exploring but, not when it comes to God’s path.
Over two thousand years ago, God created
that path for us to follow, by way of His Son.
During Joshua’s time, it was even simpler: “Follow the laws that were
given to Moses and you will be just fine.”
Joshua was able to pick up where Moses left off. God told him to do something and he
listened. It wasn’t difficult, just
stick to God’s path. Sounds easy enough. Why do people have a problem with this?
The answer is simple. The pathway isn’t easy. It’s not a smooth, level path that we can
just go skipping and dancing along. It
is full of obstacles. It has its share
of rock faces to climb, steep drops to descend, and rivers to cross. This trail was designed to test us. It was created to give calloused hands and
sore feet, spiritually speaking. It was
designed to give our spirits a workout; to use up some of its energy, to be
replenished once again.
The best part is, we don’t have to guess
at where the path goes. God gives us a
map, right at the beginning. He doesn’t
leave us to blindly edge our way, unprepared for the hazards that come. He shows where all of the sharp slopes, loose
gravel, and steep inclines are. Here is
the challenge and a map to show you the way.
Don’t let the “easy” paths of life sway
your determination to follow the way that God has set before you. Gear up.
Lace up those hiking boots. Grab
the map. Get going!
I also heard once that on these paths sometimes you can only see the place to put your next step. In those times you have to trust that God has another place for your to place your foot as you journey toward him.
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