You Don’t Have To Settle For Second Best!

Shedding light on the matter! What does that truly mean?

Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” A lamp at night casts a beam around our feet so we can see just a little of the path we must walk. A light shines brighter and illuminates our path so we can walk that journey without stumbling.

How marvellous is that double metaphor! When we have a lamp and a light to direct our way, we have no fear of the dark. We may not know the path that life takes us, but we have the blessed hope that the One who leads us down the path, will lead us on to the right place.

When troubles surround us and the path appears dim, where do you turn? If you look inward, depression claims a grip on your life. If you look on the internet, you are bewildered by the staggering amount of information. If you look to others, you cannot be fully assured of their confidence as many people are hooked on hot gossip. Instead, Jesus said in John 8:12 “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

No amount of good fortune or good company can prepare us for the day of great trouble. But the difference between a survivor and a victim is where they put their faith and trust.

Anecdotal

Laurie couldn’t understand why he was getting so tired even though he was not doing much. Supervising the team was not as hard as when he was doing all the physical work on the project, like before. ‘Maybe I’m getting old’, he thought. After dinner each night Laurie would sink into his chair and fall asleep. Then he found that climbing stairs took his breath away. ‘I think I should exercise more’, he thought. ‘I just need to get fitter.’ Marriott his wife, was very concerned and didn’t think it was just him getting old. Some days he looked so different; there must be some underlying issue. Then the annoying cough started and wouldn’t go away. After much persuading, Laurie went to see his doctor who ordered blood tests. Then the drama unfolded. “I’m booking you into hospital today,” the doctor said. Marriott knew what she had to do and reached out to all the prayer warriors. The prognosis was not good. Laurie was dumbfounded and the only thought he had was, ‘Oh God, my life is in your hands’.

When the cardiologist saw Laurie, he explained the urgency of the situation. Before he could fully grasp it, Laurie was undergoing life saving surgery. The prayer network stretched across various states and international borders as well. People petitioned for mercy and asked God to grant wisdom to the medical channels. When the cardiologist got to speak to Laurie and Marriott again, he just told them that Laurie’s life was hanging by a thread. He had a 99 percent blockage in the main artery to his heart and would not be alive if they came a day later. What a miraculous intervention that was and Laurie was spared to tell us this story.

Calamity can strike at any time. The vital question we each have to ask is, ‘Am I ready to meet my Maker?’ Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” – John 14:6. Jesus lights our path and as a bridge to the Father, leads us to the right path to God where we are assured of life forever more in His Heavenly Kingdom. That in itself is miraculous intervention.◊

Linda Pearl