The Path of Jesus

I have heard sin described as a target in which we aim for the bullseye and anything less than a perfect hit is a sin. Legalism likes to choose certain areas of the target to avoid rather than to aim for the bullseye. Liberalism likes to congratulate people just for attempting to shoot. I think neither analogy holds up for long.

I like to view my spiritual journey more as a path. A path is a trail that is guiding us somewhere. We try to stay on the path because we know it is usually safer and it is the way to get to where we want to go. Sometimes we might stray off the path because we see a promising view or an alluring flower. Most times our straying does not impact us much as we can just hop right back on the path. Other times, we might sprain an ankle, break a leg, get lost, or even fall to our death. It is dangerous off the path, but the path is always there to get back to.

The path is no cakewalk in itself. It traverses through valleys and mountains, flower gardens and desolated wastelands. At some points it narrows so much that it seems inevitable to get some scrapes and bruises while remaining on the path. Some spots of the path are unprotected and bandits wait to attack travellers. At times it seems like it completely disappears, and we struggle to know where to go. Other times it is as broad as the eye can see and we can go practically anywhere.

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." The path is more about following Jesus than it is about following the path itself. The Jesus path might stray from the well-worn path at times, but wherever Jesus went there is a path that has been followed by great people of faith for almost 2000 years. It will be visible; we just have to look hard enough to find it.