The Path Of Life

There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death –Proverbs 14:12 (NIV).

RYWA is a youth-focused movement which seeks to raise real readers, right writers, and real leaders for an improved society. Professor Antobam was once invited to deliver a keynote address at its annual YES gathering at KNUST. He however could not honour the invitation on the ground that he could not get his favourite means of transport – by sea! Surprisingly, Professor Antobam had all along thought that he could travel to Kumasi by sea.

There is always the right way to every destination. You either use that way or you get lost! For instance, one can mainly travel from Accra to Kumasi either by air or land, never by sea! Similarly, there is only one path to real life. One cannot reach the destination of real life by merely travelling by air, land, or sea. Losing the track of this path is to walk on frustrated paths of life. The signposts on frustrated paths are death, deceptions, destructions, dissatisfaction, doubts, failures, frustrations, thievery and all manner of wickedness. On the other hand, the signposts on the path of real life are: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. In sum, the path of real life is full of joy and real pleasure. Life valleys, mountains and crookedness cannot sabotage this kind of joy and pleasure.

The path of life can only be known at God’s presence. David prayed in Psalm 16:11(NIV), “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand”. Thus real joy and eternal pleasures of life are enveloped in God. The gates and courts of God’s presence are only accessible by thanksgiving and praises. And the path to these gates is owned by Jesus Christ. To walk on this path demands that we become the sheep of Jesus so that he can usher us to God’s presence.

The path of life is full of eternal pastures, peace and overflowing prosperity. Those who truly walk on it never want anything in life. David walked on this path and later testified in Psalm 23 as follows, “The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever”.

The path of life can only be shown (Psalm 25:4) by Jesus because God has accredited its licence to him. No wonder he is the only person in history who has been bold enough to declare that, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him” - John 14:6-7. It is only through Jesus that we can enter the gates of God’s presence (John 10:7-10) because he is the good shepherd. As the good shepherd he only shepherds sheep, never goats. Goats unlike sheep walk on different paths of life with the aim of seeking God. But they never get to know Him. The only way to know God is to know Jesus; knowing Jesus is equal to knowing God. We can only know Jesus when we become his sheep (disciple). A real disciple of Jesus totally depends on him for everything. Do you depend on Jesus for everything?

Richard Obeng Mensah, co-author of 37 Benefits of Reading. borncapy@yahoo.com/www.richard-obeng-mensah.blogspot.com