| The Best Things in Life |
Chapter 20 |
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How can we have this guidance? If we would have it, the first thing for us is to realize our need of it. Some people do not. They think they can find the way themselves. They never pray, “Show me the path.” During the past summer a letter from Switzerland told of two men who undertook the ascent of one of the mountains near Geneva, without guides or ropes or any of the ordinary appliances for safety. Their conduct attracted attention, being so foolhardy, and their progress was watched through strong glasses by many at the hotel. Soon the men were seen to be in trouble, wandering aimlessly over the ice. In a little while one of them disappeared, and not long afterward the other also was lost to view. A searching party went out, and it was discovered that the first man had fallen into a crevasse, hundreds of feet deep, where his body was found. The other had fallen, but, more fortunate than his companion, he fell into the snow, and was able to crawl out and make his way to a hospice, where he was found in an unconscious state.
It is foolhardy to try to climb the Alps without a guide. It is far more perilous to try to go through this world without a guide. It is one of the most assuring promises of the Bible that God himself will be our guide, not only in our mountain climbs, and through the dark valleys, but in every part of our way. But we must be willing to be led. God will not drive us, nor compel us – he will lead us. And we may take another path if we will. Many people do. If we would be shown the way, we must be conscious of our need of guidance, and must walk obediently in the path that the Guide marks out for our feet.
If we would have God show us the path, we must also trust his guidance. Sometimes we grow impatient of God’s leading because he seems to take us only along homely ways, giving us only commonplace things to do. We think we could do something larger, could make more of our life, if we could get into a wider sphere and have greater opportunities. Some people even chafe and fret, spoiling the lowly work that is given them to do, in their discontent with it, and their desire for some larger place and some more conspicuous work. If, therefore, we ask God to show us the path, we must accept his leading as it becomes clear to us.
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