Open Trails!

Read: Colossians 4:17; Galatians 6:7-10

Hiking trails are everywhere today! When I returned to my home town area, signs of trails for hiking, walking, and exploring were obvious and enticing. It takes persistence in a clear plan and much hard work to maintain a trail. Trees, bushes and plants of many kinds can quickly overtake a path and block or hinder the progress of walkers/hikers. For me, it’s a joy and great inspiration to walk a trail. It strengthens my body; renews my mind and refreshes my spirit.

Therefore, it was with great anticipation and excitement that I retraced a well- worn trail established from my growing up years. To my shock and dismay, this trail leading to a summit with great ocean views is now largely blocked by plants and thorns and, in the summer, stinging insects. Since I knew about the view on top, I pushed my way forward, and after much perspiration, body cuts and scrapes, arrival at the summit was achieved. But, returning to the base of the path and the main road proved to be more difficult than climbing up because I lost sight of any evidence of the trail in the now thick undergrowth. If only others in town would again hike the trail and blaze the path, it would have been much better for me to make progress.

Another trail in the same area had been built and maintained for a short period of time. But, sadly, the people who built it no longer maintain it –another example of a work not completed, a trail not maintained. It seems that people now prefer the popular well travelled easy road. In the Bible, there is a short but powerful verse – a reminder to each of us that God has a wonderful work assigned. The key is to complete that work.

“Tell Archippus: See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord.” (Colossians 4:17, NIV)

God calls us to complete the work that He has assigned to us. It may be easier to start a work but it takes our total commitment to the Lord and a willingness to persist and persevere to the very end. “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)

Each of us is called to demonstrate the trail to Jesus by the way we live, the thoughts we think and the actions we take. By this can others see the direction to take and the decision to make in receiving eternal life and entering God’s eternal family They need to see the clear path or trail to Jesus! God has given you a work to accomplish (Ephesians 2:10). By your daily walk with God, you will open a glorious trail to Jesus for others to follow. So, complete your work and keep your ‘trail’ open!

Moose Alert

Bible Reading: Hebrews 3:12-13

As darkness approached, our eyes strained to detect unusual movements by the side of the highway. This was Newfoundland – the location of a recent trip taken by Sandra and myself. The scenery, people and experiences were really enjoyable. However, along with great scenery came the constant warning to always stay alert for that huge wild animal known as the moose. They are very numerous in the province, hard to see, especially at night, and can easily result in destruction to car and occupants if hit on the road at high speed. Moose can dart into the middle of the road in a second without warning. Unlike other wildlife, they are not easily spooked by a vehicle.

We were traveling along the highway one evening with my cousin and his wife. Unlike me, my cousin Terry is used to these roads and has vast experience watching for and seeing moose as he drives. I strained to find a moose which might be lurking in the woods and bushes near the road. But, I failed to see even one. Each time on the trip that we did see a moose, it was cousin Terry who saw the moose and alerted us. One moose appeared within one meter of our vehicle! Terry has sharpened his peripheral vision to detect any sign of a moose along both sides of the road. His experience now protects him from danger and enables him to avoid accidents far better than most drivers.

This recent experience with a moose reminded me of how sin can act like a moose in my life. To paraphrase God’s words to Cain, sin is crouching at my door (Genesis 4:7). In its various forms, it can easily ambush me from the side “bushes” in my life. Wrong thoughts, attitudes, desires and influences can spring up into my vision without warning. Like the warning for moose, the warning from God about various forms of sin is designed to literally save our lives. One “sin alert” for us is found in Hebrews 3: 12-13:

“Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. You must warn each other as long as it is called “today”, so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God.” (NLT)

The above words remind me of how little prepared I have been to “see” the sin of a wrong thought or attitude crouching at me from the sidelines. I intend to sharpen my alertness to sin so that I can keep making progress on the highway of life and warn others when I detect danger about to pounce on them. Sin alertness is far more necessary and much more useful for you and me than even the advice about moose. In this way, we benefit for now and eternity; help others in the process and accomplish God’s purpose for us in this world.