Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.–Prov. 4:26
Having spent countless hours wade fishing in the Ozarks, I know how easy it is to get in over your head in a hurry. Just one step is all it takes to go from ankle deep water into a deep hole that you will have to swim out of. I have also spent a lot of time climbing the rocky bluffs while hunting, where just one wrong step can cause a nasty fall. You’ve got to be careful!
I also had another experience that taught me this lesson. I probably hold a world record. Really! I suspect that I have walked more miles between Springfield and Branson, Mo. than anyone on earth. I say that because I was part of the original survey crew that laid the highway out before construction started, one of the inspectors that over saw the project during construction, and a foreman for the last contractor that finished the job. And I’m not just talking about walking a straight line distance from Springfield to Branson, about 50 miles. I’m talking about taking a cross-section from one right-a-way line to the other every 50′, every 25′ in some cases–from beginning to end, before, during, and after construction. To do that we had to walk over rough and rugged terrain, high and steep hills, and deep valleys. For me, the worst was walking across the steel beams that supported the bridges. That was scary! One misstep and you could fall a 100′ feet in some places. It was dangerous work.
Since that adventure I’ve learned that life is very much like that. As beautiful as this world is in some ways it is just as dangerous in others. One wrong step can lead to disaster. Danger is always near, and recognizing its presence is our best safeguard against it. You can’t walk through life with your head in the clouds, paying no attention without getting hurt. One wrong step can lead to great harm and a life of regret. As Christians our best protection is to walk in the light of God’s Word— “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee”–Psalm 119:11; “I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies”–Psalm 119:59; “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”–Psalm 119:105. The safest place on earth is in the center of God’s will, but to get there you must acquaint yourself with His Word. Think about it!
