"Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness,
faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord
out of a pure heart."
2 Timothy 2:22
Picture this if you will: You are in the woods at night. The darkness is thick but you can still make out the forms of certain objects. You are alone. Afraid to move, you stand very still, letting only your eyes drift about. They see many things: A path before you, the same path extending behind you, tall, shadowy trees, several side-paths. A wind rises, rustling the leaves and chilling your fear-ridden body. Your ears become alert: Frogs croaking, hollow trees moaning, rodents scampering for shelter. Everything around you moves and shakes and creaks and screams and you realize how alone you really are. Now what? Somehow you have gotten to the middle of a strange forest, to the middle of a pathway. Choices, choices. Where do I go? You turn around. Behind you, down the path, is your past: The things you used to be, the things you used to do, the ways you used to feel, the thoughts you had, what you said and how you said it, the emptiness of having a crust but no core, the meaninglessness. I don't want to go back there. You turn back around. Ahead of you is a mountain, a steep and rocky mountain. The wind blows harder. It's time to make a decision. Anything is better than what's back there. You approach the towering rock. You look up, but cannot see the peak. You grip the rock with one hand and step up with one foot. Your hand does not slip. You reach higher with the other hand and quickly find another piece of rock to hold on to. Your other foot also finds a secure hold. You continue. It's getting too high. You can't make it. Fear reaches up to help you back down. What am I going to do? You look around once more. You notice one of the side-paths nearby. What else can I do? You begin walking. Maybe this will take me around the mountain. Maybe it's a shortcut. You continue to move forward. The darkness gets thicker. Branches catch your clothes and tear your flesh. Howling sounds become louder and louder. You feel the path curve and follow its lead. It's easier than climbing the mountain. You push through a screen of leaves and find yourself even further back on the path than you were just moments before. Your old self reaches out to welcome you.
On the Path of Righteousness
There will be many stumbling blocks on our own journey to Righteousness. Most
of us have encountered some of them already. Some may be small such as pot holes and
speed bumps. Some may be larger: Tall fences or wide rivers to be crossed. Others,
however, may be mountains, oceans, or grand canyons. When we come upon such
obstacles, Discouragement is often there to greet us. The longer we remain at a standstill
with these road-blocks before us, the quicker Hopelessness comes to keep us company.
The more we deliberate about how to overcome these hurdles, the easier it is for Sin to
convince us that the challenge of Righteousness is too great and that our best bet is to turn
around and let Evil lick our wounds. The longer we deny the truth, that the only way to
beat this obstacle course is to climb up and over what blocks our path, the closer our past
comes to manifesting itself in our present. The more time we spend on the wrong side of
the obstacle is more time spent separated from God.
Pursue God. Pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace. They are waiting on the other side of the mountain. Flee from the evil desires of your past, what you were before you knew Christ. Don't let a mountain separate you from God. Let it separate you from godlessness.
Love in Christ, Jen
March 14, 1999
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