Kept, God's Way!

Kept, God's Way!

Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner. Proverbs 13:6 KJV

The Context: 

Welcome to Proverbs, the book of one-line messages; each verse with a complete message about life, its measure and its impact. As I read the first few verses before today's extract, I see the benefits of a conservative lifestyle: one that is careful about what it takes in so that it can also be deliberate and careful about what it gives out. If my life will make impact and have direction, it has to prioritise the things that God counts as important, and chief on that list is character like God, which is defined as 'righteousness'. 

Who would have thought that righteousness was also an old testament message? It goes to show that no matter the generation or the dispensation, God's requirement for life will always be the same: righteousness. It does not matter what the excuse is, or the perceived lack of help; God's standards are not subject to popular acceptance or the whims and caprices of man. It has always been the minimum requirement for God to engage with man. He knows that man is by nature full of sin, yet He comes to man, seeking to walk with man. Whoever will respond to that call must embrace the consequences of that call. God will take me on as I am but He will not leave me as I am. He will demamd different pursuits and priorities from me, and if I will be all He wants for me, I have to be all He is.

The Message:

If I will be truly safe, the only way is the way of righteousness. I must watch my walk with God and the path I walk in on a daily basis. It cannot be an occasional thing; eternal vigilance is the key to ending well. The devil does not sleep; he goes around seeking whom to devour. If there is no break in the hedge or fence, the enemy cannot come in to steal, kill and destroy. Even when things don't go according to plan, as long as I am on God's side, doing what He demands from me, I will end well. 

The lives of the men of old speak to this reality. It was not about living as they saw fit, but how God directed. There is a reference to 'the way' which means that there is just one way that worked; any other option was a pretender. Am I on that way or am I content being on any way, even if it leads nowhere? Before it is too late, I had better retrace my steps if need be, and get back on the right way. My eternity will be glad I did. 

The Response:

Am I on the right way? Am I on the path of righteousness or just content with getting by? The path I am on will either lead to me being preserved or simply perishing. As always the choice of eternal reality is mine to make. God has laid out His path, and He encourages me to follow it. He will not force Himself on me; His nature is to keep all who come to Him. If I will end well, I have to be in God. So, where are you? Where am I? His time of favor is here.