On a recent trip, my family and I visited Grandfather Mountain in Foscoe, NC. It was a one-stop-shop with the various excursions that were offered. There were several hiking experiences and trails, a nature center, auditorium with historical and nature films, a zoo, gift shop, and a quite delicious dinning hall. The claim to fame was the swinging bridge that spanned a chasm 80 feet below. The center of the bridge boasted a “you are standing” marker that put crossers exactly 1 mile above sea level.
The mountain itself lived up to the intent behind the name, as it did in fact feel ancient and old, with its rocky protrusions, various evergreens, and beautiful sunlit moss. The trails were both wild and well-worn, giving the presence of both old and new, co-existing in the same moment. My family of 5 braved the hike from the parking lot to the top, having a wonderful experience on the hike up. Even the three year old held his own. But the hike down was another story. After visiting the gift shop at the top, the rain began to pour and we were feeling ill-equipped. We scrounged for ponchos and raincoats because this was going to be no easy walk down.
In the pouring rain, with water running down the slopes in every direction, and thunder now rumbling overhead, we worked our way down. There were songs of “Victory in Jesus” and “There is a Fountain” to bring comfort in the midst of discomfort. We had to watch our step on the rocky path because one wrong move on wet stone and someone was going down. At one point during a short breather, there was a trail that ventured off to our right, covered in downed trees and brush, nearing the long slope that went straight down the mountain. Over that trail was a cable and a sign that read “PLEASE STAY ON TRAIL”. I immediately laughed because there was no way I would follow that trail. The sight of it alone said enough, regardless of the warning.
And then, something strange happened. I begin to think about the “other” path. What was down there? Did something happen? Was it simply unfinished? Was it dangerous? Has someone gone that way before? Then it happened—I slipped. Fortunately I caught myself, almost wrenching my back, but I stopped and reset my footing in the presence of exposed roots, slippery rocks, and running water. Just the mere mental exercise of the “what ifs” and “wonder whys” was enough to distract my mind (and my balance).
The sign along the trail down Grandfather Mountain that kept us on track.
“See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” —Deuteronomy 30:15-20 NIV
I never stop learning from these verses, and I come back to them time and time again in my prayers, devotions, conversations, and sermons. The lessons present themselves again in the story I’ve laid out for today.
There is a way that leads to life. God has laid it out for us to take. He Himself goes that way, therefore if we go that way it leads to life and life with Him. To take the other path (or another path in general) is to choose death and destruction. God does NOT want us to take that path. Our world has been broken by sin and God is “repairing the roads” as life unfolds, but until then, there are “road closed” signs and warnings to “please stay on trail”.
Notice in the Scripture it says, “But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.” Even hiking I saw this come to life, as my mind wandered toward the other trail. I had a responsibility to get myself and my family down the mountain, and any amount of energy spent wondering about something that already instructed me to stay away was hurtful and harmful.
God is focused on giving us life. We should be focused on life and on receiving the life He gives. How much time are we spending these days on things that destroy and lead to death? Look at two other Scriptures with me:
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” —2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” —Philippians 4:8 NIV
In both of these texts we have signs that say “please stay on trail”, instructing us to round up our thoughts and point them toward Jesus; to behold in our minds and thoughts those things that are heavenly so that they can unleash a divine work on that which is earthly.
My challenge to you today is to “please stay on trail” when it comes to your faith. May the grace of God bend our minds and thoughts toward Him so that we may have life in Jesus Christ. May we REJECT thoughts on destructive things and ways of living that lead to death, and choose instead what God has clearly laid out in His word. That is how we stay on the trail.
—Pastor Whit