THE FAITHFUL TRAIL

On the faithful trail, I’ll go,
where the ferns are thick and greening,
and the undergrowth goes up and down,
and the trees are sometimes leaning.
 
Yet on the trail, I’ll follow,
as I pass beneath the basswoods,
as I stroll along the touch-me-nots,
and a patch of tangled dogwoods.
 
I’ll trust when at the gully,
where the woods are dark and deepest,
and cross upon the cherry tree,
where the bank is slick and steepest.
 
At trail’s end, I’ll have rest
in a special, hidden clearing—
on the grass, I’ll watch the passing clouds,
and the veeries I’ll be hearing.

 

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:20

 

 

THE FAITHFUL TRAIL

Veery Glade is lush and green now, and the deep-forested little brown thrush birds known as veeries sing their mystical, swirling tunes in the woodland realm. I especially enjoy their songs at dusk, when they are often one of the last birds to sing, other than the robin, believe it or not!

What happens on the faithful trail?

When a person accepts Jesus as her Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit reveals God's abundant mercy. God chose mercy over justice when He sent His perfect Son to bear the sins of the world on the cruel cross. His blemish-free life was given for our blemish-filled lives. Sacrifice provided eternal life to believers in Jesus Christ, the anointed One, the risen King. The answer to what happens on the faithful trail is that believers become redeemed through God's abundant and enduring mercy.

I give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Psalm 136:1

Where does the faithful trail lead?

But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

Genesis 3:3

When Adam and Eve disobeyed God's word, the outcome had to be as was stated by God because God is just. Even if they touched the fruit, Adam and Eve would have sinned. They didn't even need to eat it! But of course, we know they did, as scripture tells us. My mother, who is with the Lord now, had written in her Bible: 'God Himself faced a moral conflict in the cross. Should He sacrifice His only Son or should He allow the world to perish?' We have the answer in John 10:10 where it is written that Jesus declared He came to give us abundant life.

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

John 10:10

I see Mom's wisdom continued in her notes when she wrote: 'God chose mercy over justice. Mercy triumphed! Over Justice! There was no guarantee that man would repent and change his ways after God sacrificed His Son. He sacrificed His Son anyway! When we see people sin, we have a moral conflict. Should we forgive Christians and treat them like nothing happened, or expect them to change their ways first? We must chose as God did and forgive them! Perhaps in time, they will make things right with God.' Thank you, Mom, for your words of wisdom.

The faithful trail leads to abundant life, and ultimately, Heaven.

What do we learn on the faithful trail?

To trust and obey our Father's will, as Jesus did and does, is the best thing anyone can do. To learn to depend on God's Word as we walk along on the faithful trail is most rewarding.

But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father?

Matthew 21:28-31a

The Son of God told a story about a father with two sons to the chief priests and elders who challenged His authority. The story went that a father told the first son to go work in the vineyard, but the son replied he wasn't going to. Then, he changed his mind. Something caused him to obey his father after all. So, he repented and went to work like he was told. The second son, however, said upfront, Sure, Dad (actually, 'sir'), I'll go to work. I'll do as you say. But, he didn't really go to work. After the story, Jesus asks the priests and elders which son of the two did the father's will. They answer correctly, the first son. Then, Jesus had more to say to these priests and elders who didn't seem to care about the Son of God's words anyways.

Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

Matthew 21:31b-32

The way of righteousness was shown to both the priests and elders and the publicans and harlots. One group did not believe while the other did. One group did not repent, or confess their sins, while the other group did. The answer to what we learn on the faithful trail includes, among so much else, trusting and obeying our Heavenly Father's will.

The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining: and the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executed his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it? Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

Joel 2:10-13

Stay on the faithful trail and hear the veeries sing the joyful blessing bestowed from the word 'repent'.