Try this: Take your friend to a beach or a park, blindfold him, and tell him to walk in a straight line. Nobody can do it, at least not for long. One scientist explains why: “Humans, apparently, slip into circles when we can’t see an external focal point—like a mountaintop, a sun, a moon. Without a corrective, our insides take over and there’s something inside us that won’t stay straight.”
What is true physically turns out to be true spiritually as well. Scripture speaks often about the importance of straight paths—those trails that are beaten down from constant use until they form deep grooves in our heart.
Straight paths are shorter than those that meander across the terrain, so “a sensible person stays on the right path” (Proverbs 15:21). They also tend to be safer than traipsing through the bushes, as only fools “turn from the right way to walk down dark paths” (Proverbs 2:13). And they make for easier journeys, for when you walk “in straight paths . . . you won’t be held back; when you run, you won’t stumble” (Proverbs 4:11-12).
The straight path is the place to be. But as any blindfolded person can tell you, it’s impossible to find on our own. “There is a path before each person that seems right,” wrote Solomon, “but it ends in death” (Proverbs 14:12). We need “an external focal point.” Not some mountain or star to guide us. No, we need God. “Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by Your truth and teach me, for You are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in You” (Psalm 25:4-5).
Let’s look up and ask God to open our eyes to His straight path today.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Acts 16:16-40
More:
Read Proverbs 4:20-27 to discover more ways to keep your paths straight.
Next:
Given the biblical emphasis on straight paths, why is it significant that the first followers of Jesus were called “followers of the Way”? (Acts 9:2). What changes do you need to make to pursue God’s straight path?
jstabel on November 2, 2011 at 1:15 am
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of MY faith.
kram4mark on November 2, 2011 at 8:45 am
NOT I BUT CHRIST!!! Sometimes it is so hard just to let Him lead….
daisymarygoldr on November 2, 2011 at 4:42 pm
Great analogy of trails that are beaten down from constant use until they form deep grooves in our hearts! If we don’t have “an external focal point”, then the thin line between God’s truth and human reasoning becomes blurred. And one step to the right or to the left will lead us to stray away from the right way.
Joshua reminds us to not deviate from the Book of Instruction, turning either to the right or to the left. Then we will be successful in everything we do (Joshua 1:7). We need to stay on the straight path so we don’t get lost. The Christian journey is dotted with trials and hardships which are to be endured. It is not wise to take short cuts and turn down side roads.
Sadly, there are Christians that have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam (2 Peter 2:15). They deceive people for money (Jude 11) and are teaching people in the church to sin (Rev 2:14).
The love of money has seduced many apparent believers that have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows (1Timothy 6:10). Many ministries toe the line of materialism with good intentions—to enhance their mission’s outreach—but then end up running around in circles with raising money and more money.
In the name of Christian liberty when “followers of the way” tilt sideward to tread the ways worldly wisdom, our faith gets derailed. Let us then, fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. The wise will keep our eyes straight ahead and ignore all the sideshow distractions (Proverbs 4:25 The Message).
winn collier on November 3, 2011 at 11:14 pm
great image, reminds me of our need to “fix our eyes on Jesus.”
rickmorganwwjd on November 7, 2011 at 11:41 am
I am keeping my path lit with God’s word 🙂