A few days ago, my eldest son called to talk. These are always rich occasions – conversing with my sons as adults. His heart was heavy (as was mine) regarding the chaos in our world. One doesn’t have to look too far to identify it; disorder and turmoil blanket the earth like a thick fog. Without a break in the clouds or a strong light to guide us through the dimness, navigating our way along the planet-path is mostly a clumsy attempt at survival.
I don’t want to walk through this life clumsily, putting too much trust in steps that are guided by fate and by man. Instead, I want to walk through this fog with steps fortified in faith—a sure and certain hope of what I cannot see, but what I know is there …
Truth.
And so I offered my son (as well as myself) a bit of advice to help us both step our way through this season of confusion:
Surround yourself with Truth. Surround yourself with Truth-tellers. Shut out the noise—the voices of dissidence that are hacking away at Truth’s foundation. Stay in the Word; study the Word; search the Word for answers. Saturate your soul with Truth. Then, walk on with Truth as your compass and as your strength.
There is only one source of truth; truth isn’t relative, based on popular opinion. Truth authors from Jesus. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (see John 14:6). Get to know him and the darkness surrounding us becomes as light to him (see Psalm 139:12). When we cannot see for the thick fog surrounding us, we can know that he sees for us. Accordingly, we must rest in Christ’s presence. We must walk with Christ’s guidance. And we must, must, must fan into flame Christ’s candle so that our families, our friends, the Body and Christ and beyond, may safely and securely find their way along the narrow path that leads to home.
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” –Matthew 7:13-14
We know the way home, Christians. We know the way that leads to life eternal. We shouldn’t be surprised by the narrowing of our pathway in these days; instead, we should be enlivened by the witness of this tapering. This tightening of our steps is simply and profoundly the sharpening of our souls. Few will accept this divine, thinning process; many will, instead, accept the world’s version therein, herded along the wide-path, trampled beneath the weight of sin, and buried in darkness eternally.
Yes, this is the world we’re living in, but thanks be to God, this is not the world we’re ending in. In choosing the narrow path, we make a choice for the wide expanse of our Father’s forever. The road home may be dim, may even be cramping some of us out of our comfort zones, but make no mistake – the path we’re walking today is leading us home to our eternal resting grounds. All roads have an ending point. All earthly journeys will cease. Whether you’re stepping wide or stepping narrow in this season, your next steps matter. Accordingly, I offer you the same advice that I offered my son recently:
Surround yourself with Truth. Surround yourself with Truth-tellers. Shut out the noise—the voices of dissidence that are hacking away at Truth’s foundation. Stay in the Word; study the Word; search the Word for answers. Saturate your soul with Truth. Then, walk on with Truth as your compass and as your strength.
Truth will guide us home. Truth will welcome us as we arrive. Until then and as we go …
Peace for the journey, friends!
Spot on, Truth-teller ♥
Likewise, my friend. Your light shines brightly in this world!
Oh my, you nailed it! Surrounding ourselves with Truth is crucial in these days, for Truth is our only hope. I love, love, love this: We shouldn’t be surprised by the narrowing of our pathway in these days; instead, we should be enlivened by the witness of this tapering. This tightening of our steps is simply and profoundly the sharpening of our souls. Really, it is so true. Our opportunities to share Truth grow greater as the darkness encroaches. May we be bold and confident in the Hope we have within us. I’m so glad I stopped in to visit you today.
I love what Chamber’s writes on his June 28th entry – “Never water down the word of God, preach it in its undiluted sternness; there must be unflinching loyalty to the word of God; but when you come to personal dealing with your fellow men, remember who you are – not a special being made up in heaven, but a sinner saved by grace.” I’m praying that prayer continually. I so want to serve God’s people with a love-based agenda.
HE IS the TRUTH!!! HE IS all ABOUT the TRUTH….and NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH!… and those who truly love Him and walk with Him speak the TRUTH of His WORD!! I love this for today… so much wondering of “what’s coming next, Lord?”…. HE IS COMING!!! Look UP and see the TRUTH break through the clouds…….. we must prepare our hearts with the TRUTH and PRAY… and help those who are weak in faith! Bless you my friend!
Continually looking up, Stephanie; there’s no better season than this one for our Lord’s return. Great to hear from you!
Great words to ponder in these days! ” this is the world we’re living in, but thanks be to God, this is not the world we’re ending in” ~ I’ve been spending the past week or so honing my perspective in the midst of the world’s noise. In Christ we have hope, a sure foundation, and an unmatchable inheritance. And while we are living in this world, we have a call to holiness based on Truth. The more narrow the path to home becomes, the more we can identify with the saints who have gone home before us, especially those who gave their all for Truth. I’m in.
I hope I’ll be found as faithful as the saints of old. Their stories of faith strengthen my heart and my feet in this season. Glad to walking the road with you, Jacquelyn.
I think of Jesus saying, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” If I keep focused on Him, I will never lose my way.
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12, NLT)
Yes, amen.
GOD BLESS!
Like Sharon, I was thinking of how Jesus said that he is the way, the truth, and the life. And I love that he — the truth — will indeed welcome us home one day. We definitely need to keep our eyes on him, don’t we, Elaine? Hope you’re having a good summer!