The door clicked closed behind him. The sound sent both anxiety and anticipation running through his veins.
“You can’t get to your destination without looking ahead and taking your first step,” he told himself as he hoisted his light-weight sack higher on his back.
With eyes fixed on the distant mountainous expanse, he moved his right foot forward on the cobblestone walkway. Then, he moved his left. Right, left, right, left. Before long, he was at the end of his own walkway. With only the contents of his pack – a loaf of bread, some cheese wrapped in a cloth, water pouch, a blanket and the Letter packed on top for easy reach – he began his journey.
He had never seen the land. He knew from the stories told by those who had been there, however, that it was a beautiful, green land with running rivers, rolling hills, trees lush with fruit for the taking. The Lord of the land was a kind and loving master who cared deeply for His people and wanted them to be happy and prosperous. The Letter packed in the sack was written by the Lord of the land, calling to the traveler to come.
He also knew from those same stories that the journey was challenging. The mountains were steep and difficult to traverse for miles. The lands to be traveled on the journey were often cold, barren; and the inhabitants did all they could to destroy the travelers.
“Keep your eyes on your destination. Read the Letters over and over again. Drink from the river often. Don’t leave the path. That’s how you make it to the end. That’s the only way anyone makes it,” an old traveler had told him when he first decided to answer the call of the Letter. “It will be worth it!”
Keeping those words in mind and the words of the Letter in his heart, the young traveler began his journey.
“I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths. When you walk your steps will not be hindered and when you run you will not stumble. Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go. Keep her for she is your life.” Proverbs 4:11-13
“And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits…” Revelation 22:1-2a
We are all on the Journey, following the course of our lives. As Christians, ours is the narrow path set before us by God, often rocky and difficult. The path of the world seems so much easier and at times more exciting. Only through the Word of God, His “love letters” to us, and His guidance in our lives will we remain on the road He has us travelling. Some days may seem too difficult to bear, but as long as we keep our eyes focused on Him, our destination – Heaven, will be prove to be worth the Journey!
