Many Paths

I have heard it said many times - there are many paths to __________________(heaven, enlightenment, God, etc. - fill in the blank) and I have always wanted to ask who said that? Where did this thought originate? I didn't know until this morning.

I am struggling to stay on this path. In my quiet time this morning, God led me to the book of Ephesians 2:10. This verse states that we are His masterpiece and created to do the good things that He planned for us long ago. As I read that verse, it occurred to me that I am on my path, the one created just for me and should I depart from this path, I would miss out on God's plan for my life, the very reason for which I was created. And I wondered, could this be the thought behind the "many path theory"?

Should I choose to leave my personal path, God would not love me any less. But I did imagine a heavenly scene as I make my arrival into heaven. The scene opens with my arrival at the gate. I would whisper the secret code Name and the gate would open. (And while there may be many paths, the Bible states there is only one entrance Way.)

Jesus would take me by the hand and we would walk down Memory Lane together. On the side of the road I would see many items hidden under a blanket of dust. As we approached each item, He would gently lift the cover, wipe off the dust, and I would see all that could have been, the fullness of life God planned for me to live. A life greater than all of my dreams, desires, thoughts and prayers, left undiscovered by the side of the road. Then, He would replace the cover for there these dreams must lay, unused and left behind.

We all have a path to walk. And while I can share the blessing and treasures along the way with many, my path is only wide enough for two - God and I. This byway displays the occasional "orange-barrel" that I must navigate around and sometimes a sudden storm so severe the road disappears. But if I persevere, along the way are people to love, places to experience and treasures beyond even my imagination.

God allows us to choose our way. We can take the dimly lit, adventurous path or we can detour to the wide multi-laned, double-decker bypass built for those who either never found their personal road and or settled for the easier-to-follow marked highway. Either way, our final destination is the same.

But if I choose the bypass, I will leave the adventure package designed just for me. And I know that should I make that choice, when my time on earth is done, my heart will ache when I see the blessings and presents God had planned along the way - the ones that the dust will uncover. So, for today, I will choose to remain on my path. And when I struggle again, I will return to this verse and hold on tight.

I will take the hand of those who don't know the way, who can't see where they are going. I'll be a personal guide to them, directing them through unknown country. I'll be right there to show them what roads to take, make sure they don't fall into a ditch. These are the things I'll be doing for them - sticking with them not leaving them for a minute. (Isaiah 42:16)