Trajectory

Directions

All of us have been lost at some point in our lives. In those moments when you don't know where you are or which way to go next we can be filled with anxiety and fear. The point is that we just need to know which way to go to get back on the right path. We need something such as a landmark or sign to point us in the right direction. 

However, sometimes we know the right direction but the problem is that there is some other interest pulling us the other way. Of course this can be taken literally, as if you are running late for work or an appointment but you really want to stop in to your favorite morning drink spot or coffee shop. But this can also be the case in a figurative sense. You have a decision to make and you know the faithful choice, but there is something you desire just a little ways down the other path. The dangerous lie of sin is that we can go just a little way down that deadly road and then come back but unfortunately the reality is that starting that way only makes going God's way (repentant faith) more difficult.

Slippery Slopes

The problem is that with each step down the broad road (Matthew 7:13-14) the inertia begins to propel us further away from the Lord and His commands. The longer we spend on this excursion the less we remember His merciful warnings and steadfast love. The road we once would have never considered going down now becomes comfortable and easy. On this road it is easy to assume that we can turn around anytime and no real damage is being done. But remember every moment on the broad road is time not spent on the narrow way and not drawing closer to the Lord. The further the journey the steeper the slope becomes. Maybe you have experienced this with something as simple as church attendance. The first time you miss you feel like you really missed something and you know you should have been there. But over time you get used to not being there and before long you don’t even miss the meetings. The danger is that these things are subtle. These do not seem like massive departures from our values and commitments but they take us away from the Lord in small increments.

Old Roads

Sometimes our struggle is not that we are going down the old broad trail but that others who we love are venturing that fretful way. Of course we warn them but often they can't or won't hear us. They assume they are different and it will work out this time. But as anyone with real experience knows the crash and hardship are sure. We know where this road leads and it's always death (James 1:14-15). So often we overlook what seem like small things even sins because we want to believe the best of course that is what love does (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) but we must be on guard for a dangerous trajectory. There are many examples in the scriptures of people whose down trajectory started long before their eventual fall.

Consider Esau, of course he was rejected according to God’s sovereign purpose but he disregarded and despised both his birthright and his blessing (Genesis 25:29-34; 27). Or look at the life of the first King of Israel, King Saul. He repeatedly chooses to place his wisdom over God’s clear commands. Saul thought he could offer sacrifices in place of Samuel and against God instructions (1 Samuel 13:8-15). Saul then directly disobeyed God’s instruction to devote the Amalekites to destruction claiming he only wanted to worship God with the sacrifices (1 Samuel 15). But God would rather have our obedience than our innovation.

While the Bible is full of these examples, let us consider just one more. Judas did not suddenly decide to betray Jesus. Over time he began to question what Jesus was teaching and doing, insisting that the expensive ointment could have been sold for a great profit and given to the poor but we are told this was only because he wanted to steal from the purse (John 12:4-7). Judas had long before started on the trajectory of choosing money over Jesus.

Caution

The point of this post is simply that we would all be careful about traveling down dangerous paths that can lead to destruction. This danger is especially great if we are inexperienced and unwise. So let us ask God for wisdom (James 1:5) and seek to find His direction in His word and through the blessing of His Spirit!

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