This post will differ from most. It’s a shared introspection of needed changes. Perhaps this will also resonate with you? At least, that is my hope.
Scripture tells us in Proverbs 14:12, There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. I’ve been thinking about this a lot along with another recurring thought: “It often takes years to understand what we have learned”. Let’s join those two concepts with Deuteronomy 30:19 (ESV), “I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life…” God gives us the right answer—life and blessing—if we will but align with His wise instruction. I admit there have been many times in my life when I have chosen the deathly route and suffered severe consequences. Thankfully, I occasionally walked the life path, and God blessed my correct choice.
We’re in a borderland. Aren’t we always, it seems? This year ends; the next begins. God’s cycle of time unfurls ever forward, and there are choices to be made—life or death, prosperity or poverty, health or sickness, service or selfishness. While I don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions (few people follow them through), we should review each year, consider what we have accomplished, recognize what we have not, and make prudent changes as we progress to the future. The biggest thing is to fulfill what God has called us to do. That is the choice for life proscribed in Deuteronomy. Life is good. Death is terrible. And death does not refer only to the physical but also to the spiritual and emotional.
I have not been as zealous in following God’s directions as I should have been. But I cannot change the past. The only thing I can do is act in the present to lead hopefully to a better future. One in which I am far more obedient than I have been previously. Obedience, says the scripture, is better than sacrifice. And it is better to give than to receive.
As my remaining time unfolds, however long that may be, I will share many personal things leading up to this and beyond. I hope the lessons of my journey prove valuable to others. That is certainly my intention, to share and to give so that others make wiser choices and avoid my foolish errors. While we are each unique, we also share common values and experiences. And we should not live for ourselves, but we should live to serve others. We should contribute, not only seek selfish gain. Scripture informs us, “Freely you have received, freely give”. So it is that direction I am currently being drawn. It has been an intense and unforeseen year. But isn’t that how it always is?
Throughout life, I have learned incredibly valuable lessons. This year’s lessons were hard. Valuable, despite the staggering difficulty. The human heart always wants scripture to be wrong in certain areas. We want to trust people around us and believe what they say, especially those we love and esteem. But that is often impossibly foolish. Not that we should not love others, we should indeed love them immensely. And we should forgive them. Yet we must also recognize their shortcomings just as we recognize our own. Deceit fills the human heart. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit fills it with goodness.
One difficulty with following God’s lead is that it opens us up to the ridicule and persecution of the world. It cost John the Baptist his head. Scripture and history tell many stories of people suffering for their faith. But is not that the genuine test of faith?
What’s more important? Avoiding things you fear doing or performing tasks God has called you to do? Not all fear is terrible. Fear of leaping from a cliff is wise and good. But so often we fear the wrong thing for the wrong reason. Avoiding those things leads to death and prevents us from achieving results with far greater value. Performing that to which we are called leads to life. God has already given us the answer. He tells us to choose life.
So, as we begin this next year, I am committing myself to no longer live in fear of what others may think or do, but to live in fear of what the Ultimate Judge decrees. What God has called me to do supersedes everything else on this earth. What I saw as being right is a way to death. The only way to live is God’s way.
God, forgive me for my errors and shortcomings. Lord, help me walk the path you have determined best for my life. And, my fellow believer, may we walk together on this journey…