Scenic Road

She finished her series of lessons on Life on the High Road this week. Her finale was the scenic road. Pam, the bible study teacher from Second Baptist that I have talked about several times in past weeks wrapped up her road work analogy by asking if we knew what the secret of Living LIfe on the High Road was. It wasn't about circumstances or blessings or your lot in life.

She began with the following verse: Job 23:10 But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. There are many options for the roads we take; detours, highways, dead ends, loops, exits, dirt roads, but the last one was the scenic road, which was where you find the gold....Christ!

I looked up this verse and the commentary on it and found it to be filled with God's grace. Eliphaz was trying here to condemn Job for some secret sin that Job may have committed. You have any of those? Do I? I am sure I do so secret that I may not even be able to identify them, because the deal is that God's standards are so high and our performance is so imperfect that I am bound to fall into the category of sin probably at my every turn. But the good news is: all my sins and yours too have already been accounted for by what Jesus did on the cross when he was crucified. Even I condemn myself in my heart, God is greater than my heart. His forgiveness and cleansing are sufficient, they overrule our nagging doubts....when we stand on that truth. We are forgiven in God's eyes as declared to us through the Holy Spirit who lives within us. We just forget to listen to the truth and allow a bunch of lies to impede the transfer of that knowledge. That truth is our GOLD!

In reviewing the story of Job, (Job 42:9-17) she pointed out four God generating verbs. Life, restore, increase and bless. He lifts us up. Just think back on a time when you were in the gully, and you wondered if ever her would be a time that you would finally be freed from the plight of apparent doom and sadness. Christ lifted you out....or if you are not yet free, then hang on and know that he will act upon his lift according to his timing. He restores us. I know especially in these economic times of unrest and insecurity we have all had to pull back...but sometimes God helps us to recognize the blessings in simplicity. He increases us and our territory,remember that prayer of Jabez. and he blesses us in so many ways, many that we are to busy to recognize. We all have stuff, some more than others, some less than others, but everything that each of us have is a gift from God. We are not to look around and ask why does he or she have more, we are to praise God for what we do have instead. I have been on that envy road and it does nothing but steal joy from my everyday life in every way. When compared to the world around us...we who are reading these are blessed in ways to many to count, but we get caught up comparing ourselves to neighbors instead of being grateful for all that we have been given by God. It is all his stuff anyway!

Consider your friends and family. Now wait a minute before you start picking and choosing which ones you like and get along with and which ones are a little tough. Our families and friends are even chosen for us by God for his purposes. God had all that planned. I am not so easy myself, but I know that I have been planted in the family I am in and have the friends that I do by God's grace and for God's purposes. Have you ever considered the fact that each of us is a viable component for someone else's maturity. And what about our kids, they too are God's blessings, and we must remember that as they grow in spirit and love and his grace, through hardships and trials, that

they belong to God and are only on loan to us.Every area in life is an area of abundance if we consider it has been given to us or allowed by Christ himself. For where your heart is your treasure is also. All of these things are circumstances that are before us on our scenic road. But when does the scenic road go beyond the circumstances?

"Without exception, people who consistently smile do so in spite of circumstances, rather than because of them. Our external circumstances do not have the power to make us happy. Circumstantial happiness does not last....only Jesus lasts."

She spoke of the secret of Living on the HIgh Road. Plain and simply it is being able to recognize and acknowledge Christ...and focusing on the picture of Christ......on all our roads.
The challenge of the Scenic Road: Isaiah 45:3
I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places,
so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.
The purpose of the Scenic Road: Psalm 16:11

You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

God wants us, to want Him, to be our everything! It is worth considering. Especially for me because I know how many times I have put things and people and circumstances first and let him slide to my back burner. If I want scenic...then I don't have to look past my prayers.

Dear Lord, Many a road I will take but never will I find one that you are not beside me, have not gone before me or will be willing to carry me when I am weary and worn thin. Thank you, Amen

Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!