You must act according to the decisions they give you at the place the Lord will choose. Be careful to do everything they instruct you to do. –
Deuteronomy 17:10 NIV
If we believe God is present from the beginning – He is there when we are born – think for a moment how many “forks in the road” we experience in life. The family we are born into, the medical treatment we receive, the family traditions we experience, the schools/education we are exposed to, the church/Christian education we find God in, the friends we gravitate towards, and everything about growing up in a Christian family.
Then we are left to our own understanding of God through young adulthood. Choosing a college or training programs, dating/courtship/engagement/marriage, job/career, decision to have children, carrying old, familiar traditions or establishing new traditions, making church a priority, instill Christian values to our children, participating in the life of the church, engaging in Christian disciplines like reading daily devotions, praying at meals, and other activities focused on God.
As we reach where we are today, how does the “forks in the road” continue towards God. Drawing, painting, submerging the soul in YouTube music videos, writing, creating and opening up an old way for engaging with each other and with God. Keeping the door open to discussing God with our children and grandchildren – so they will know it’s okay, safe and important to talk about God.
The important part of “the forks in the road” is that we had to take a fork to know where God has led us – in knowing that the path isn’t promised to be easy, but faith is trusting in God. When we look at our lives and we understand our legacy, we will come to know that there was only one path to God and that Jesus was present every moment of our lives. We’d have it no other way. We made our decisions and we selected the fork in our road. Sure, there were other forks, but faith requires conviction and being confident in our walk with God.
While “the forks in the road” may or may not lead to the church, there are so many faith builders that are grounded in God – and found outside the church. A women’s Bible study, a men’s breakfast, a dinner with another couple, going to a national conference at the Creation Museum or Ark Encounter, starting or creating a small group that meets in people’s home, or carving out some time to connect with old friends over email. Faith requires intentionality – a plan – action – focus – why are we connecting with one another.