Deuteronomy 5:1-6:25; Luke 7:11-35; Psalm 68:19-35; Proverbs 11:29-31
"So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess." (Deut. 5:32-33)
When my kids were young, a traveling circus came to our home town of Abilene. To boost ticket sales, they invited local television anchors to participate in an elephant race at the Montgomery Ward parking lot. It began as an exciting close-up view of celebrities trying to ride the huge animals, but quickly turned into a nightmare when the elephants charged the spectators - including me with my two small children. We had to run for our life!
Despite the incident, I still love the circus. My favorite "big top" performers are the tightrope walkers. Their skill, precision and intense focus demonstrate years of practice and self-discipline. As they place one foot after another across a wire suspended in mid-air, they dare not even glance to the left or the right for fear of losing their balance and falling to a certain death.
The Bible instructs us to be careful and walk in the way God commanded, specifically warning against turning to the right or the left. There is only one straight and narrow path that leads to eternal life. "...small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Matthew 7:14)
Walking the right path takes practice, similar to what a tightrope walker goes through while learning how to keep from falling. Over time, he masters the art of balance and the technique of tuning out distractions, enabling safe and steady movement forward. Our distractions come in the form of temptation...the enemy's effort to shift our focus and pull our eyes off of the Lord. "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy..." (John 10:10a) Following the path of temptation can be as dangerous as a tightrope walker letting one foot slip off the wire.
"...when you are tempted He [God] will also provide a way out so you can endure it." (1 Cor. 10:13)
God wants us to make it across without falling, but He knows our nature --- there will be times when we turn and fall. So He sent Jesus to be our safety net. When we fall into His arms, He'll catch us, forgive us, and guide us back onto the right path. The tightrope walker might never get a second chance to get it right, but because of God's grace, we do!
Blessings,
Pastor Susan
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