The Way Everlasting
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalms 139: 23,24
David wanted complete transparency with God. His prayer is very specific asking that God would search him, know him, purge him and lead him. Though I had read this scripture many times before, on this night the latter part of verse 24 jumped out at me. The way everlasting. I couldn't help but ask “God, what is the way everlasting?” And it became my mission to search for an answer. I believe it thrills the heart of God when we delve into His word, searching out a matter, seeking to understand His word, and in doing so, drawing closer to Him. Closer to Him is such a beautiful place, a place of safety even in times of struggle, hardship and hurt. Closer to Him is where we heal, learn, grow and develop. Closer to Him is what we reach for, seek out and strive to attain. We can never get too close to Him.
I love David’s writings. He is so real, so pure in his hunger for God and his desire for Him. He was not perfect. He, like all of us, made mistakes in life. Yet, even with all of his mistakes and shortcomings, he pleased God. We know that he pleased God because God Himself refers to David as a man after His own heart. (Acts 12:22) David was in pursuit of God. Of all our pursuits in life, our God is the greatest, the pursuit that should be our number one, the one we desire more than any other.
We know that David wasn’t perfect, he dealt with sin and often made poor choices that put him in situations that were not pleasing to God. Then how could he be a man after God’s own heart? In his humanity David was fallible but, in his heart he hungered for God. David was a man after God’s heart because he desired to please God and he knew the power of repentance.
In order for us to begin on this path we must first realize our sinful nature and, as David did, go to God in complete and honest transparency from a repentant heart. True repentance is accomplished in confessing our sins and fully turning from the practice of those sins.
A repentant heart pleases God. Without repentance there is no forgiveness. Without forgiveness there can be no relationship. Walking with God is all about your relationship with Him. That is what God craves. He longs for us, a closeness with us. That is why we were created, why we were given freedom of choice. He wanted to be willingly worshiped, willingly loved. Relationship is what God desires with us.
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 14:6
Jesus is everything. Absolutely everything. He is the way, the door, the answer, the reason, the purpose, the hunger, the desire and so much more. It is all wrapped up in Him. He is truly all in all.
Jesus tells us that He is the way. Because He is the way, all that we need to walk in the way we will find in Him. The Way Everlasting is God’s designed path for us to follow to attain life everlasting. Life everlasting is free, paid for by the blood of Jesus, but to attain it requires something of us. It requires discipline, dedication and obedience. It requires a heart that is completely given to God, without wavering. It requires a commitment to going the distance regardless of what life may bring. And it requires a desire to learn and a willingness to be taught.
The Way Everlasting is filled with points of growth, learning and transformation. Truths to learn and apply to our lives. On this journey we will experience growth in knowledge and understanding. We will learn of Him and His ways. We will come to love what He loves and desire what He desires. Every step is designed to draw us closer to Him and to lead us in the Way Everlasting.
These Christ-like qualities will develop within us as we walk in the Way Everlasting.
Holiness: Set apart from sin, separate, moral purity. When we truly put Him first in our lives, living a holy life becomes second nature. Holiness comes from within, a reflection of our relationship with God. That relationship builds within us the desire to be holy in every area of life. Holiness calls us to be separate from the world.
Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
1 Peter 1:16
Righteousness: Virtuous, honorable, morally right. Living a life of integrity and honesty is like a banner over us pointing to Jesus.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Matthew 5:6
Godliness: Reflecting the nature of the kingdom of God in the course of everyday life. Through godliness we show the heart of God through our daily words, actions and deeds.
But godliness with contentment is great gain.
1 Timothy 6:6
Fruit of the Spirit: Nine characteristics that are produced in a Christian's life by the Holy Spirit.These qualities are a reflection of who God is and should be evident in each of us who walk with Him.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23
What is the Way Everlasting that David desired to be lead in? Jesus is the Way Everlasting. He is the way and He is from everlasting to everlasting. As we walk with Him, learn of Him, and live obedient to His word striving to live a life that is a reflection of Him, we are walking in the Way Everlasting. And as we continue to walk in this way we will surely inherit Life Everlasting with Him.
Each of us should strive to keep that same prayer that David prayed upon our lips and within our hearts. David knew that life everlasting is only found in the Way Everlasting.
God, we ask that you would search us, know us, cleanse us and lead us in the Way Everlasting and that you would order our steps so that we would not stray from it.
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
Psalm 90:2Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 14:6I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
John 10:9
Life everlasting with Jesus is all that truly matters. Any pleasures of this life that we may enjoy, any wealth or fame that we may acquire will be irrelevant to eternity. When our life is over and we stand before Him all that will matter is our relationship with Him. A relationship cultivated as we walk in the Way Everlasting.
Gail for Gail’s Favorite Things