“The road is long with many a winding turn . . . .” These word are from a great song of my generation, He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother, by The Hollies. Many of us see life as one winding turn after another: event to event, trial to trial, valley to mountain, mountain to valley. If we know Him, though, He sees our life as the path we travel as He walks along with us, as one that straight and narrow, leading to Heaven. Now, I cannot wax eloquent like my dearest and most treasured friend and favorite pastor’s wife, Tina Richardson, but the Lord dropped something in my spirit I would like to share. I love to drive. It doesn’t make any difference where I am going, I love to drive. However, as I was driving to work yesterday morning, the Lord asked me, “Why do you like to drive? And, when you drive, why do you like to take toll roads?” This probably seems like a silly conversation to you but the Lord and I talk about a lot of different things, especially when I am driving. I have to admit His question caught me off guard but then I began to ponder it. Why do I love toll roads? Tina will tell you that if there is a toll road anywhere close to where we are travelling, I am probably going to find it and drive on it. Then, it hit me like brick wall. Toll roads are where you can go faster, not as much traffic, and . . . get this . . . there are no obstacles, especially when you have a toll tag. You breeze through the toll plazas, leaving everyone behind. Isn’t that how we want our life? Faster. No traffic. No obstacles. Just breezing along. (Yes, there is a song there, too, but we will save it for another day.) But, that is not what He wants for us. He did not promise us a rose garden but He did promise He would walk every step of the way with us, never ever leaving us. There is a huge difference between a toll road and a way. On the toll road of life, we think we do not need Him. Everything is just open road. “I can get from point A to point B without any help.” Oh, so not true, my friend. Did you know the word “road” is only used once in the King James version of the Bible? Yet, the word “way” is used over and over and over. The book of Deuteronomy teaches us a lot about the “way.” The “way” leads to remembrance of all that God has done for us. The “way” helps us to keep His commandments and to walk like Him. The “way” teaches us what is required of us: to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul. What happens when we walk in His way? Our days . . . and the days of our children . . . are multiplied. When we get off the toll road and exit to go to Sonic for a sweet tea, we will encounter some obstacles. A long line at the drive-thru. Happy hour is still 30 minutes away – no half-price drinks. But, that is perfectly fine. Every obstacle can be removed by being like Zerubbabel: Speak to the mountain and it shall be leveled like a plain; plant the headstone with shoutings of “Grace! Grace! Grace!” (Go ahead. Read Zechariah Chapter 4. You will be shouting at the end.) When we walk with The Way, the tea is sweeter and has no calories. When the way gets a little crowded with the things of life, just remember (sing with me): He’s the God on the mountain and He’s God in the valley. When things go wrong, He will make them right. The God of the good times is still God of the bad times. The God of the day is still God in the night.” My momma is 91 and she has walked with The Way for more than 80 years. My prayer? Oh, Lord, that I may walk my way with You – The Way - every minute of every day. Thanks for reading. Now, get off the toll road and go enjoy leveling some mountains and walk in His Way.
Posted on: Wed, 13 Aug 2014 02:20:48 +0000