Up the Down Escalator
January 6, 2009 – 11:36 amI smiled as I watched a few Chi Alpha students struggle to climb the down escalator at the recent World Missions Summit in Cincinnati, Ohio. They were laughing all the way to the top. What fun they were having! I’ve thought about the incident over the past few days in several ways.
Sometimes we choose the most difficult way in life. When God asks us to simply follow Him, we carve out our own path thinking that our way is best. Going God’s direction just doesn’t look like much fun. We laugh as we ignore the obvious danger and struggle to keep our balance spiritually. We may finally reach our destination, but the path was much more difficult than God had planned.
At other times, God chooses a path that is seemingly one of constant hardship. Some missionaries face spiritual darkness and daily disappointments, failure and insecurity in a culture that is not pleasant. Some work for several years before they see their first convert. Without consistent electricity, pure water and American conveniences, their lives are not easy. But it’s God’s path and they have joyfully accepted the assignment. God gives them the same comfort He gave the apostle Paul: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9).
When we choose a path that seems pleasant but is not in God’s direction, the outcome may not be good. When God chooses the way, however, victory is always assured, even if difficulties meet us around every corner.

