THE PATH GETS BRIGHTER
“But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” Proverbs 4:18
The contrasts between the way of right and wrong, between godliness and wickedness, between righteousness and worldliness are stark and virtually unending. Our text verse gives us a prime example. The journey of the just, referring, of course, to the godly person or the Christian, gets brighter and brighter. This is a beautiful and powerful reality. God does not make empty promises. He does not try to make the Christian life appear to be problem free, without its share of difficulties and hardships. As a matter of fact, the Scriptures clearly call for self-denial and cross-bearing among His disciples and prepare us for persecution if we are going to live godly. And yet, the farther we go with Him, the more we love Him, and the clearer His ways become to us. Eventually, that path will lead us to the city He is preparing, brightened by the light of His glorious presence.
The enemy’s approach is just the opposite. The best that sin can offer is pleasure for a brief season. However, the path of sin leads to darkness and deception. Sin brings heartache, disappointment, guilt, despair, and shame. And when it is finished, it “bringeth forth death” (James 1:15). Satan never tells the truth about the future that awaits the rebellious, but there is one thing the sinner can anticipate. It will always be worse than one could ever imagine. The way of the transgressor is not an easy road. In the end, there is eternal torment and permanent regret for the ungodly.
Remember that the Christian life is a journey. There will be times of difficulty and disappointment. Don’t measure the entire journey based on a brief stretch of bumpy road. Keep your eyes on the Lord and always remember that one thing is for certain – the best is yet to come. Stay on the path of godliness. It is a beautiful thing to see this great truth in the lives of God’s children. The further down the road they go, the more they obey the pure Word of God, the more fully they surrender to His will and ways, the more Christ can be seen in their character.
The path gets brighter and brighter. There is a “perfect day” awaiting us. There is a perfect place that Jesus is preparing. There is a perfect peace and rest just ahead. The closer we get, the brighter the light will become. What a blessed journey this is!