Proverbs 10:29 The way of the Lord is a refuge for the blameless,
but it is the ruin of those who do evil.
This statement seems odd at first glance. How can the way of the Lord be destruction? However, the way of the Lord is destructive to everything that doesn’t align with Him. Thus, it will destroy the unrighteousness of a person who doesn’t follow Him. So, if unrighteousness is that person’s identity – which it unfortunately is for all too many people – that person himself will be destroyed. However, as any disciple of Jesus Christ can testify, if our hearts are committed to following Christ, then the unrighteous things in our life, the sins, are destroyed, but we ourselves come through cleansed and strengthened. When we are honestly following God, then we indeed have a stronghold, a refuge from everything the world and the devil throw at us. It’s all a matter of perspective. When we are committed to Christ, then His dealing with our sins is welcome, even if painful in the moment. If we are committed to our sins, as many people are, then His dealing with them is destructive. Various philosophies call themselves “The Way of (whatever),” as in, “The way of Zen,” or “The Way of the Samurai.” For the Christian, as the hymn says, The Way of the Cross Leads Home. We are not to be tempted by “the Great White Way,” or any other way that ignores God, but rather seek Him at every turn, knowing that He is the ultimate destination, the only one worth our total commitment.
I have been tempted by various “ways” in my life: the way of indulgence, the way of pride, the way of isolation, and others. None of those have produced any lasting good in my life, and all have been to at least some degree destructive. It is only as I have sought and followed the Lord that I have made genuine, constructive progress. That’s why I intend to keep up that pursuit for as long as I live. The longer I live on this earth, the less I feel trapped by it, and the more I anticipate my eternal home. I do enjoy life, and I get immense satisfaction from being aware of God using me in various ways, but I am increasingly aware that this is just the warm-up, that the main event lies ahead. I’m not to get impatient, but rather be faithful at every task the Lord gives me. As I am sometimes reminded, His way isn’t necessarily easy street, but it certainly leads to the greatest reward. A major part of my purpose in still being here is in drawing others to follow Christ along with me. That takes many forms, and not all of them are obvious. I’m not to draw back from anywhere He leads me, and I’m not to go running off on any tangent, either. As the song says, “I don’t know about tomorrow; I just live from day to day.” That knowledge is enough, because as at that song goes on to say, “I know Who holds the future, and I know Who holds my hand.” At the moment, with recently diagnosed angina, and a major heart exam coming up on the 29th, things seem uncertain, but actually they are no more so than they have ever been. I am being given ministry opportunities I’ve not had before, and some of them involve traveling. I’m not to try to plot it all out, but rather follow my Lord wherever He leads, because that is unquestionably the best course.
Father, thank You for this reminder. We have a full day today, and a grand crush of people anticipated for tomorrow. Help me indeed be anxious for nothing, but rest, relax, and rejoice in You, just as You have told me to do, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!
