“The path of the righteous is like
the first gleam of dawn;
shining ever brighter
till the full light of day.”
–Proverbs 4:18 NIV
I’ve been trekking along the path of the righteous since I was four years old, ever since I heard the story of Jesus dying on a cross to take the punishment each of us deserves for our wrongdoings. Miss Ruth, the storyteller, said if we asked him to forgive us, to be our forever Friend, and to take us to heaven when we die, Jesus would do all of that and more because he loves us so much. That very afternoon I prayed with Miss Ruth and embarked upon this adventurous* life-journey with Jesus.
Please understand: the path of the righteous has not been paved with my own righteousness. “I didn’t receive God’s approval by obeying his laws. The opposite is true! I have God’s approval through faith in Christ” (Philippians 3:9 GWT).
My Christian parents made sure the first gleam of dawn during childhood included many hours of Bible instruction in various settings. Sound boring? It wasn’t. The Bible contains some of the most exciting stories I’ve ever heard, and they’re true!
The first gleam of dawn also included practical lessons of faith:
During one of Grandma’s babysitting-visits, she promised to take my brother and me for ice cream. But when the moment came to leave, we couldn’t find the house key. The three of us looked everywhere; no key. Grandma suggested we pray. The three of us perched on the lower stairs while we asked God to help us.
No sooner did we say “Amen” than Grandma again headed to the drawer where the extra key was kept. She’d already searched there a couple of times, but this time there it was.
Now why hadn’t she seen it before? Perhaps so two little kids could learn that God hears and answers our prayers—even those of low-priority status.**
And as the years have passed, the faith-pathway has been shining ever brighter.
The Light of the world (John 8:12) has enlightened my mind and spirit, giving guidance and allaying fear. (To be truthful, I haven’t always followed his guidance nor have I lived totally fearless–but I’m learning!)
Sometimes God has directed, and I wasn’t even aware. My high school guidance counselor and two youth group sponsors at church happened to be alumni of the same Christian college about four hours away. Each of them took me to visit for homecoming and other events. Three years later I was attending that school, where I met my husband, Steve.
After graduating with a teaching degree, I failed to secure a job in or near the small community where Steve would begin his seminary training the following fall.
“Aren’t you worried about what you’ll do if nothing turns up?” a family member asked. I honestly wasn’t overly concerned, perhaps because the situation was totally beyond my control. I had no choice but to believe God would provide something.
At the beginning of August a principal called. Due to health reasons a veteran teacher had decided not to return; was I interested in the position? Three weeks later I was standing in front of my first class.
Fast forward through seminary, the births and raising of three children, the pastoral appointments for Steve in six churches, twenty-six years of teaching in four schools for me, and poof! We’ve traveled together forty-plus years down this path of the righteous.
And I’m still rejoicing that God bestows more light as the days go by. He shines ever brighter and will continue to do so till the full light of day—the day I arrive in heaven.
Robert Browning wrote, “Progress is man’s distinctive mark alone.” How much more so for us Christians, whose progress toward maturity and completeness results in a delightful, distinctive mark: we become lights on the path of life, shining like stars and reflecting the Lord’s glory (Philippians 2:15, 2 Corinthians 3:18).
We, too, can shine ever brighter till the full light of day. What a glorious privilege he gives us!
I’d love to hear a story from your path of the righteous. Please share in the Comments section below!
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*By adventurous, I am not referring to the hang-gliding, rock-climbing, parachuting kind. Rather, the I-wonder-what-God-is-going-to-do-next variety!
**Of course, God does not intervene in every situation. Even the most faithful believers sometimes endure pain and problems. Yet, like another sufferer, Job, their hope in God remains strong. Their focus is on that day when all suffering will end and God will establish his perfect kingdom. Meanwhile, he is their strength and song (Exodus 15:2). Those saints are the true shining stars!
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From the Inside Out 
“Until the light dawns…” I love this verse–the light is what keeps me moving forward. And the ‘lost key’ story–so awesome. God cares about ice cream and all kinds of things that are important to kids.
Lovely post.
AMEN to the light that keeps moving us forward. I can’t imagine life without it! Glad you enjoyed the ‘lost key’ story. As you can see the experience made an impression. That incident happened six decades ago!!
Your post reminds me of Pilgrim’s Progress, which I just love, and which God has used to inform me about some of my own journey. Maybe it’s time for me to read it again!
Well, DUH! That very obvious connection never even crossed my mind! Thank you, Dawn! 🙂
wonderful journeying with you across the lifespan. TAYLOR?? didn’t go there but have been there for meetings – about 1.5 hour from me. We should meet up there someday
Steve and I haven’t been back to Taylor for YEARS, since we lived so far away in Florida for four decades. But it sure would be fun to meet up with you!
I’m glad to read this overview of your journey, Nancy. Writers’ group doesn’t give us much chance for background conversation. I think it’s lovely that you have been open to God since you were four. We later converts have a lot of wrong thinking to unravel!
Colleen, like Nancy I came to the Lord at a very young age…5. We all accept Him at various ages, etc. But I’ve wondered about missing out on some big conversion like many people experience. However, His plan was to come to him as a child…literally…
I meant to say ‘His plan for me….was to come to Him as a child…’
Thank you, Colleen. It HAS been lovely to live in the palm of God’s hand all these years. Even so, he’s had to unravel some wrong thinking just the same! It IS a journey for all of us, isn’t it, not only toward maturity but also toward truth.
My Mom led me to accept Jesus as my Savior at the age of five and brought me up as the Lord led her. As you know, I eventually ended up at Taylor…just like you! I ‘followed’ two of my older sisters in Christ from my church to Taylor. And what a blessing to have some life-long friends from my college years, like you. As far as the Lord intervening for me, forgive me if I’ve already told you about this… But when Mom called to tell me that she thought Dad had passed I rushed right over to their home. I had always thought I didn’t want to be there when it happened but when the moment came I felt badly that I hadn’t been there. When I arrived at Dad’s bedside it did appear that he was gone…his chest wasn’t moving up and down. But something made me check his pulse…which was still strong! Moments later it stopped… But I felt that the Lord had intervened and allowed me that one final moment with Dad. I truly believe that.
What a precious gift God gave you, to be with your dad during his final moments on earth! HE knew that in the end that would be important to you, and provided. Thank you for sharing with us, dear Taylor friend!