Spelunking

The first explorers of Carlsbad caverns did their spelunkiing in a dangerous place.

But they knew what they were doing and carefully discovered room after room of beautiful stalactites and stalagmites and eventually opened the underground so others could enjoy their discovery.

I've been through the caverns several times, and while viewing the awesome beauty, I almost tremble at the open holes along the designated paths for tourists. Without lights, we would surely perish by stumbling into the jaws of an abyss. Visitors are warned to stay on the paths or they may be swallowed into the caves below and their bodies never recovered.

The path, the lights and the dangers remind me of the narrow way Jesus talked about that leads to everlasting life.

In His Sermon on the Mount Jesus said, "You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose the easy way. But the gateway to life is small, and the road is narrow and only a few ever find it" (Matthew 7:14 NLT).

I learned at Carlsbad it's easier to see a path if it's well defined and illuminated. David taught us that God's Word would be a "lamp for our feet and a light for our path" (Psalm 119:105).

Recently, I compiled statistics about agony reaped by our society in recent years because of risky living. Nearly 50 million babies have been aborted in the United States since the early 1970s. An epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases bring misery, but also ruin health, lives and can kill. (AIDS isn't the only one that kills. Hepatitis B and C, and human papilloma virus also can kill). The inability to build life-long loving relationships affects not only the rich and famous, but a large portion of the population. Too many lack supernatural joy, peace and purpose. Heartache too often is masked by liquor, drugs, anger and even murder.

One by one, wonderful people fall into sin's chasm because they wander in the dark without the light provided by a loving Heavenly Father and Savior.

Why not turn on the light?  Connect with God? Ask Him into your life and read His Word. Start with the Gospel of John and watch the flame chase away the darkness. Don't be surprised if you feel Someone's hand guiding you through the danger. David prayed, "Lead me in the paths of righteousness for Your name's sake."

All it takes is one step at a time.