Who will light my path?

Who will light my path?  Without a little light – the pathway can be very scary. Okay, I am going to reveal something very few people know about me.  My family is well aware and often uses it against me.  I am afraid of creatures in the night.  Yes, I said creatures in the night.  You know – the abominable snowman; Bigfoot; etc.  For some reason – outside in the dark – my mind just simply runs wild.  It seems like all of the sounds outside are amplified ten times louder than normal.  I can hear the leaves blow, twigs snap and animal sounds that are unidentifiable.  Yikes!  My mind becomes certain that there is a creature no one has ever seen before and it is out there in the woods – just waiting to get me.  Being outside in total darkness paralyzes me.  I can’t seem to take a step and move forward in the dark.

Thinking about my fear – even though it is a pretty silly fear – reminded me today of this verse…

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105 (NKJV)

That made me stop to think about when I am outside in the dark – alone and afraid – I need a flashlight to light my path.  That light on my path gives me the courage to take the next step.  (Um, I promised to be honest – most of the time I run as fast as I can!)  Well, the verse above tells us that God’s word – the Bible - is a light.  In vs. 130, the Bible tells us that “the light” gives understanding to the simple.  Are you chuckling?  I think God has a sense of humor – don’t you?  I am simple – simple minded for sure – especially when it comes to understanding scripture.  So, let’s break it down even more.

As I studied this verse, I read the New Living Translation that said,

“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”

Wow!  That makes it even easier to understand. God’s word brings light to our dark world to guide us. So, through His word, God desires to be our guide. The dictionary says that a guide is one who shows the way by leading, directing, or advising.  A guide is one who serves as a model for others, as in a course of conduct.  A guide is a person who leads anyone through the unknown or unmapped.  Wow!  That is a great description of what God should be in our life.  He should be our guide – the ultimate guide.

Let’s go check The Living Bible…what does it say?

“Your words are a flashlight to light the path ahead of me and keep me from stumbling.”

Don’t you love it?  Oh I do!!!!  Isn’t God good?  Because He knew we would be clueless and simple and weak – He made sure we would have what we needed to light our way.  First, He gave us His Word as a guide that is just as relevant today as ever!!!  Then He came to earth in the form of man and became our guide for the unknown and the unmapped.  He left for us the perfect example to follow.  But don’t miss the last part of that verse.  The Living Bible says “to light the path ahead of me and keep me from stumbling.” WOW!  I love that part.  You see, I stumble.  Don’t you?  We are human and we are flawed and sometimes we do even more than stumble – we fall.  So what’s the prescription?  Well, there is a preventative medicine – God’s word.  Just apply it daily and it will make the symptoms of stumbling decrease and lessen.  And another benefit will be that our understanding will increase.  Yes, the simple will gain understanding.

So, let’s tie this all together.  We live in a dark and scary world.  As we go out into it there is a creature who would love to devour us.  However, we can carry a torch or a light – and that is God’s word, God’s teachings, and God’s example with us as we take each and every step.  His light will shine to give us perspective and understanding as we go forward into the unknown.  He will reveal our path – the one He has chosen for us to follow.  So yes, as Psalm 119:105 says…

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

And all God’s people said, “Amen!”

As you relax today on Labor Day – grab a copy of God’s word and read a little.  May it brighten your path.

Happy Labor Day!