Faith Words: Remain Faithful

Fall in Virginia!  What a wonderful time to visit this state! The highways and byways wind along following the path of a creek or river as it works its way through the mountains.  Every curve and rise reveals new breathtaking vistas of red, yellow and orange against a backdrop of green.  In the rainy weather we've been having here, the clouds hang softly along the tops of the ridges floating like smoke between the peaks.  It's so beautiful, it could make you cry.

Driving these roads is challenging.  Things look different and you need to pay close attention.  Unlike home, the roads aren't straight and you can't see very far ahead. They're narrow with little or no shoulder along the sides. Instead, there are ditches and drop offs to keep you on your toes.  At night, it's incredibly dark - very few street lights to guide you, just the stripes and reflectors on the roadway.

The highway signs and markers are indispensable.  Side roads and turns are obscured by curves and trees. The speed limits are understandably much slower than in the wide-open spaces we're used to.  Flashing lights warn drivers of upcoming traffic lights and reduced speed zones.  If you decide to leave the main roads, you'll need a map.  GPS doesn't work most of the time and neither do cell phones.  Carefully following the right directions is a must if you want to reach your destination on time and without too many detours.  But getting there is worth all the work because the view at the end of the road is marvelous.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 warns of challenging and difficult times:

"You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!"

 We'll be tempted and encouraged to throw away our trusted guide book and blindly follow new paths regardless of the dangers there.  I don't know if we're living in the last days or not but I know we're living in challenging and difficult times where we're encouraged to ditch the old and trusted ways for dangerous choices in spite of the consequences.

Warnings and road signs are being disregarded.  Laws and wisdom that have kept us safe and on the right path are being thrown out in favor edgy new trends that will bring pain and destruction.  Finding the right way to live is becoming increasingly more difficult in the face of political correctness and secular wisdom.  Without a trusted road map, we're going to end up in the ditch.

Paul encourages us to remember the truth we have been taught and hold fast to it.  But we'd better know that truth if we're to remember it and rely on it.  Now is the time to spend time in the Word, to learn the safe and trusted ways.  Find trustworthy people to walk alongside who will give you good, sound teaching to guide you through treacherous times.  Paul puts it this way in verse 14-17 of chapter 3:

"But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work."

Staying the course is not easy.  It takes hard work and perseverance and sometimes you have to turn around and get back on the right road.  But getting to the destination is worth it.  The end of the road is where God is and the view will be marvelous.

With eyes faithfully on the road,

Patrice

2 Timothy 3:14a (NLT)

"But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught."