Destinations
2 Chronicles 17:3-5 ASV
(3) And Jehovah was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto the Baalim,
(4) but sought to the God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.
(5) Therefore Jehovah established the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat tribute; and he had riches and honor in abundance.
The way of righteousness will unfailingly lead to abundance. Better to follow the path itself rather than those who have walked it but may stray. Also, to wander from it oneself need not completely negate an influence given or impression made on others while walking on it.
I had this coach in junior high and high school that made a significant impression on my life. He always seemed to be the greatest example of discipline as he kept his body in toned physical condition and gave the impression that everything in his life was ordered and well established. He had this way of talking through tightened lips that made you feel either encouragement or an overwhelming sense of humiliation for committing anything that met with his displeasure. I remember the lecture he gave me for not participating in 8th grade football. He made me feel like I had personally failed him and that I was setting a pattern of quitting that would ever be a part of my life. Any chance of emulating even a part of the image he set as an ultimate standard was disabled by my failure. Because of this speech I determined that I would play football all four years of high school. I would do my best to restore his approval and somehow ascend a little closer to the incredibly high standard he portrayed in his own life. He inspired in me a desire to seek the way of diligence and discipline that would certainly lead to physical health and productive living. My adherence to the way he exemplified has ebbed and flowed through the years since, but this has never altered the legitimacy of the way itself.
While my coach presented such a great example of what lay further along the path of discipline, I later discovered that while the path was unfaltering, its follower could stray from it. My example, the one who could do no wrong, managed to burn a large portion of his house by using something other than just dry wood in his fireplace. Stepping off the path of what I’m sure he knew to be right, he did something that caused great damage and loss. This most certainly was not something that I will include in his list of virtues to be followed, but his failure on this one day will not in any way disprove the validity of the path he had spent a lifetime following. I will not be in danger of burning my house down some day because I choose to follow the path of discipline and hard work that coach exemplified. In fact, I can still be assured just as much as ever that health and productivity in my life will be greatly enhanced by carefully keeping to that path myself.
I’m sure Jehoshaphat had other examples of those before or around him who had chosen to follow a more politically popular path of tolerance for foreign gods and perverted practices. There was an example, however, in the early years of his father, Asa, that well displayed wisdom in following the path that feared and honored the Lord. Though there was a time in Asa’s later years, just as there was with David, when he chose to step off the righteous path with consequences, Jehoshaphat had presence of mind and wisdom enough to recognize that the path of holiness itself had never lost its validity. As a result of his determination to follow the ways of his father’s early years, letting God be his passion and his direction, he was blessed with many riches, favor and peace. His father’s example and influence for righteousness remained significant even though it may have not remained consistent.
There is a continual path choice laid out before us- the path of complete and total adherence to and dependence on God, and the path that is led by personal passions, whims, and opinions. There is an example given by any who has followed either of these paths before us that can greatly affect our choices. The destination of each of these paths, though, no matter the consistency of those that would walk them, will never be altered in the least. The way of righteousness leads inevitably to life, health, joy and peace, while the way of the flesh leads, without fail, to death and destruction. Though there may be some on the flesh path that would appear to be ‘prospering’ or ‘living the life’, there is no changing their destination- it’s death. On the other hand, the failures or inconsistencies of those on the path of righteousness will never alter the path’s destination of life. Also, the time spent on that righteous path will ever produce inspiration (like that of my coach) for a way that will itself never fail.
Inspired by greatness and providing that inspiration ourselves, the way for this day has an inevitable destination. Even though a step may have been taken in the other direction, righteousness will ever be the option, and it will never fail to produce its fruit in a fulfilled, productive and peaceful life.
Proverbs 2:20-22 KJV
(20) That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.
(21) For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.
(22) But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.
Proverbs 11:18-19 KJV
(18) The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.
(19) As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.
