Aimless Wandering

The drama unfolded completely unnoticed by the motorists waiting for the light to turn green.  A slight movement caught my eye and, being an animal lover, my breath.  An unfortunate little field mouse had wandered onto a five-lane highway, weaving first through moving cars and then stopped ones. Incredible as it seemed, I watched the little creature as it approached the other side.  The curb was a jump away where grass, shrubs and safety awaited.  I was ready to drive away relieved of the tension, when for no apparent reason, it aimlessly changed course and took shelter in the shade of a motionless vehicle. He almost made it. But almost wasn’t good enough.  His fate was sealed because the tiny creature lacked understanding.

Aimless wandering … it can be fatal to more than field mice.  Multitudes of people live without direction or purpose; making random and impulsive choices to satisfy the moment.  Journeys that appear to be comforting and harmless, turn out to be neither.  Maybe you’ve known a few.

• The flirtation with that married friend was fun until it became an affair
• The social drinks were supposed to take the edge off, but ended up being the edge
• The grudge seemed justifiable, but embracing it only added to the suffering
• The gossip of another’s failure became the failure of the tale-bearer
• The convenient lie became the default of facing difficulty
• The internet curiosity led to a lifestyle never imagined
• The compromise of truth turned order into chaos

How do we stay the course in this journey of life?  Certainly there are multiple paths to choose from, but contrary to popular belief, they do not all end with the same results.  In the 7th Chapter of Matthew, Jesus spoke to this issue and His words are clear.  “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.”

The truth is we wander when we function independent of God. Our fallen nature makes us prone to do so and try as we might to rationalize a path contrary to His, the results inevitably meet with perilous circumstances.  Which is the very reason Jesus came. He is the path that leads us to life.

Isaiah prophesied of Him. “This is what the Lord says, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.”  Many have ignored it, others have refused it and some have followed the Way, the Truth and the Life.  What about you?

Friend, if you are reading this and think you’ve strayed too far to make it to the other side ~ think again.  Jesus, who bridged heaven and earth, loves you. Not multitudes of nameless faces, but people and, specifically, you!  He knows the path you have wandered and longs for you to step towards Him, to receive forgiveness and find a life where hope and purpose and eternity awaits.  It has been described as taking a leap of faith and promises you’ll arrive safely on the other side!