The Paths of God

For every believer there is a course to follow – and on it should the eye always remain.  It is all that we are called to; It is all that we should desire; it is all that we must come to know.  And so we gaze intently at His holy Word, while our path becomes full of light before us.  Eagerly must we set our feet upon the paths of God, that we may search them out.  In a world only in part yet full of wonder, should we not ever explore them?  And as we travel on He broadens the way; then more splendid grows the Light.

Love and Power and Glory and Beauty envelop the way of the adventurer that treads the paths of God.  I am careful to set my foot in no place wherein my Captain has not first made me a way.  For it is He alone that goes before us and makes ready every byway that must receive us, formed and fashioned by the Almighty’s hand.  Though He goes before me, it is not every path that is pleasant.  Many are they that become darkened for reason of approaching storms.  For we must not only know the joys and delights of the One who leads us, but also the trials and the burdens and the heavy heart which were once known by Him.  These are roads stony and not smooth, slippery and not easy to hold to.  Still, His sure and steady hand is ever stretched out behind Him, and to it we hold in those dark places where the tempest rages and heavy rains sting the face of the one who treads the paths of God.

But it is not long and there appears a silver lining, so that soon every ominous cloud makes haste, obeying the will of their Master on high.  Ahead lies a season of refreshing and fellowship divine with the One who our souls love – the One who we are joined to forever.  Again do we drink from brooks of living waters and eat of the bountiful fruit of the land.  Together under setting sun do we taste of the wine of our desire.  Once more life is good. Our path is full of light again; in this light do we bask all the day.  We catch hold of the wind and on it we ride to wondrous heights – heights not ordinarily encountered by most who tread the paths of God.

Lonely are the heights of heaven, those roads that great souls travel, where the hush of true holiness falls.  Here like pure snow it covers all the land.  This is sanctuary, a world hid away from all others.  Those to be encountered in these places are but a few, but when one’s way does cross with the way of another, most wonderful is that meeting.  So glorious are the heights of heaven for those who tread the paths of God.

But even in heaven’s heights do wars occur, and so one must remain vigilant.  Whether in high or low places; whether in the sunshine or the storm; whether in the morning or in the noontide, war may suddenly be waged.  And so at all times and in all places seven swords will be needed.  With these we are able to lay waste the enemy.  And these are the seven swords that we must never be discovered without.  They are Faith and Hope and Love; they are Knowledge and Wisdom and Understanding.  And the last and seventh sword is the sword of the Person of the Spirit.  It is He that makes sharp the blades of the other six; and that by the working of His own blade, so that they may become of powerful effect.

But one Day every sword shall become a plowshare; and as these become changed so will their purpose become radically different.  Instead of tools to bring down an enemy to the ground, they will serve to bring the elect up from the ground.  Then they will be implemented in such a way so that the good fruits of the Father’s election become grown and harvested; and whoever may taste of them shall be nourished and strengthened.

And in those days the heavy rains will no longer sting the face of the one who treads the paths of God.  Nor will the storms bring anything to ruin anymore.  The tempest will never again blow with relentless fury.  Then, as it is written, “All of the rough places shall become smooth, and every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low.  Made straight in the desert will be a highway for our God, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed.”  Yes this is the future and surely this is the certain hope for all who tread the paths of God.

“For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone, the flowers appear on the earth, the time of the singing of birds is come and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.”

J. Pecoraro