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It appears that too many are drifting along in the current of life, with no real destination. They either have no rudder to guide them or they refuse to allow it to steer them on any certain course. They seem to be content traveling wherever the current might take them. Instead of taking hold of their journey, they are adrift without intent or purpose. It is no wonder that they never arrive, when they have no particular destination in mind?
It is said that a certain teacher tried an experiment with some of her students. The goal was to traverse the football field from one end to another, in as straight a line as possible. Try as they might, student after student walked in a zigzag pattern. Finally to everyone’s amazement, one of the students walked a straight line, almost perfectly. How could he succeed, when everyone else failed? “I fixed my eyes on the left post of the goal at the other end of the field,” he said. You see all the others had looked down at their feet or a short distance in front of them, to direct themselves toward the goal. But try as they might, their feet wandered from the desired path. The successful student however, steered for the goalpost in the distance. In so doing, his feet did not waver..
Is it not true that all too many are like those students who walked the zigzag trail. Many do not fix their minds upon the goal at the end of their journey. If we would live according to God’s principles we would assure ourselves of a fruitful life here on earth and a home in Heaven. True we can make heaven without a full and happy life, but if the traveler, would at the beginning of his journey, fix his eyes on the heavenly goal, his steps would be fewer and his journey much easier to traverse..
Peter refers to a fulfilled life on earth when he states, "For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:" (1 Peter 3:10) How strange some might think it to be, but happiness IS the assured product of a godly life. Joy, happiness, contentment, and fulfillment are to be found in service to God our Father.
Satan assures his followers that sin is the way to go. “Forget the Bible and all that the ‘Psalm singers’
He might tell you, if you want to be happy.” Now it’s true that sin holds some pleasure and for the moment it may appear glorious, but the long haul is the problem. "But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out." (Numbers 32:23) You see sin ALWAYS has its down side. It will ALWAYS have a consequence that must be reaped. If we live only for the present pleasure of sin, we like the students who watched their feet, will never walk the straight line. We will never reach the goal that God wants for us of a life filled with accomplishment and contentment.
The Psalmist compares the one who sets his eyes on the heavenly goal with those who have no such guidepost. “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.” (Psalms 1:3-4). He assures us that the best route to chose in life is the follow the teachings of our heavenly Father. Those who refuse to do so will suffer, in the present world and in the one to come.
Macbeth, in Shakespeare's play of the same name, reveals his philosophy of life. He seems to capture the real meaning of a godless existence. “Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player, That struts and frets his hour upon the stage, And then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”
How tragic. I don’t know about you but I desire a better way. And following the guidepost given to us by the Lord we can possess it. Life … life with substance and quality is God’s desired blessing for all mankind. However, he will not force this blessing upon us. We must seek it with all our might. God has done his part. It now remains for man to do his. "But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you." (Romans 6:17).
Hear the admonitions of the book of Proverbs. "The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened." (Proverbs 10:27). "As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death." (Proverbs 11:19). "In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death." (Proverbs 12:28)
When the Lord asked a certain man what was the greatest commandment, the man answered, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.” Jesus’ reply is an echoing of achieving a desirable life by keeping the commandments of God. “And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live." (Luke 10:27-28)
Can the age old question of how to find happiness in this troubled world have such a simplistic answer? Can the mere choosing of a cross road that is traveled by affixing our attention on the heavenly goal bring our lifes to a successful conclusion?
Yea verily my friend!! Yea verily!!!
Who will yield their life unto the Father of the universe. Who will follow in the steps of the Savior.
"He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it." Matthew 10:39.
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