We traveled throughout the night to arrive at our daughter’s home, passing by so many other travelers heading to their destinations.  Though the journey demands a long night seated on a plane as it crosses over the Atlantic, the reward awaiting on the other side makes everything worthwhile.

In contemplating the journeys we make during our lives, we see the journey of our Christianity.  While we may have entered this promised Hope as a child, we soon learn the arduous task before us,  matter of daily choosing life over death.

Let me explain by taking us on a walk across my daughter’s village, one where she lives with her husband, son, and Golden Retriever.  After arriving at their home, we shared many joyous moments of laughter, hugs, and kisses as the morning unfolded.  The day was a mixture of sunshine and intermittent rain showers, so we found ourselves enjoying a day of laze as we played and played with our grandson.  Then we decided to go outside for a walk, ‘an adventure’ as our daughter calls it.  From the moment the word was mentioned, Maple (the Golden) was stretching out her front paws, ready.  We quickly strapped Arthur, our grandson, in his stroller, and we headed out to walk about the village.

Leading out of their driveway, we turned right, starting on the right side of the street.  Before long, we crossed the street, going to the left side where sidewalks provided easier and safer walking for the five of us.  The skies were ablaze with beautiful sunshine and a gentle breeze blew against our skin.  Light conversation was shared with my daughter and her dad who walk with Maple leashed and leading the way.  After a few minutes, we crossed over the street, going back to the right side, moving toward a sidewalk overhung with green shrubbery, one more narrow to traverse.  Even so, we crossed, for if we had stayed on the left side of the street, we would have come to the neighbor’s home, one surrounded with a sturdy fence and one that held a large German Shepherd.  By the sights and sounds, it was a good decision for the presence of two dogs so close brought much anxious barking as the neighbor’s dog revealed his angst at our passing.  Nevertheless, we were safe, for the fencing surrounding the perimeter of the yard, the crossing to the right side of the street, and the decision to cross over saved us.

Many within the world may ask:  Why would people ever choose to walk with God when it’s totally possible to walk alone, apart from the Savior?

That question is one easily answered within the next line of the verse:  “who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed.” 

Redeemed Us.  Saved Us.  Protected Us from the evil one, and Sustains Us for all eternity.  Is that not similar to the decisions made in walking down the street on the afternoon adventure.  We crisscrossed back-and-forth, going side-to-side, traversing from first this side of the street to the other side, each time deciding to cross because we needed safer sidewalks to walk, safer paths to go, and less cumbersome walkways that would help our journey be complete and lead us home safely.

I was the one given the opportunity to push along little Arthur in his baby carriage, so when the time came to cross the street to the other side, I would hesitate, pausing to look first left and then right and then left again before stepping.  Is that not how it is when we walk with the Lord Jesus Christ?  Are we not compelled to pause to pray, to look to the way the Lord’s Spirit would lead, and then step in faith toward that which He would have us go?  We do so, trusting, following, and realizing that it is with the LORD’S spirit that we are never led astray but always led to His righteousness, “to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.”

Truly, the decision of life to follow Jesus is the single decision followed by daily decisions, step-by-step, as we walk closely beside the Lord.  The Bible tells us with assuredness that God will lead us home to share eternity with Him forever.