There is an ancient trail, a well-worn narrow Path. His name is the Way. He is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. Life begins in Him and it ends with Him – He is Life itself.
Yesterday, I stumbled upon Jeremiah 18. And within that chapter God said "But my people have left me to worship the Big Lie. They've gotten off the track, the old, well-worn trail..." (MSG). Immediately, I was reminded of Matthew 13:22: "As for what was sown among thorns, this is he who hears the Word, but the cares of the world and the pleasure and delight and glamour and deceitfulness of riches choke and suffocate the Word, and it yields no fruit".
Then I had an image in my mind, somewhat like the image below. A path that was once very clear, pleasant and fulfilling is now overgrown and very difficult to find the Way. The cares of the world, pleasure, delight, glamour and deceitfulness of riches have choked out the Way.
The Bible tell us:
1. "Do not love this world nor the things it offers you - which is a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever". (1 Jn. 2:15-17 NLT)
2. "For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows". (1 Tim. 6:10 NLT)
Father, help us all to be careful and guard our hearts against loving anything or anyone one more than You, the Author and Giver of Life.
Psalm 16:11 - You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy, at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 16:11 - You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy, at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.