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Previous Challenge Entry
Topic: Paths (05/17/04)
TITLE: Paths
By Robert Drury
05/24/04
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They were both apostles. They each walked with Him and listened to His Word every day. They both came to be with Him in the garden that night of anguish. They each betrayed Him that very night. They both cried passionately. The tears of each were tears of shame. Yet the tears of one were also tears of humble repentance and joyful trust while the tears of the other were tears of pridefull self loathing and bitter despair. One went on to be the Rock of the Bride of Christ while the other went on to become the symbol of betrayal.

Listen to the Word of God, trust in the Word of God, do as the Word of God tells you to do and you will always choose the right path. "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." Psalm 119:105.

What lesson can be learned from such contrast? How could two apostles who were actually chosen by Jesus and experienced first hand the power and glory of His word choose such different paths? Nothing in the universe is more powerful than the Word of the living God. Yet, in His great wisdom and mercy, He, through His only begotten Son our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus, gives each of us the opportunity to SUBMIT to His word or REJECT it. Our caring Father loves us beyond all measure and is by no means an "Indian Giver," He gave us free will so we could more fully experience the ecstasy of choosing to love Him and to glorify Himself so we could benefit from loving Him even more! He will never take back our will from us, we can only give it back to Him if we choose to.

To love authentically and fully, one must be able to choose to do so, and therefore, also be able to choose not to, just as the triune God who is love personified, chooses to love Himself. Peter chose the glorious path of love and salvation, Judas chose the pitiful path of self hatred and condemnation. Which path will you chose?