This past weekend, I was able to hike the Appalachian Trail
(AT) with a few friends (and fellow members of the church). We started at McAfee Knob and ended 13.5
miles later at Andy Layne Trailhead. We had perfect weather, and it was a great
time I won’t forget. While trekking through God’s creation, I couldn’t help but
ponder these spiritual lessons.
I. Nature confirms
the creator
Standing atop McAfee Knob and Tinker Cliffs, I felt closer
to God. If you’ve never been to these places, I highly recommend going. The
breathtaking views and peaceful tranquility at these peaks create a reverent
atmosphere. Among the other hikers resting there, some were meditating, some
were praying, and some were looking out in silence. I believe that all humans
have an innate sense of wanting to worship a higher power. I believe this sense
is strongest when we find ourselves among God’s magnificent creation.
“But now ask the
beasts, and let them teach you; and the birds of the heavens, and let them tell
you. Or speak to the earth, and let it teach you; and let the fish of the sea
declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has
done this, in whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of
all mankind?” Job 12:7-10
“For since the
creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine
nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so
that they are without excuse.” Romans 1:20
II. Life is full of ups and downs
The section of hike that we did was full of ups and downs.
There were quick downhill stretches with switchback turns followed by brutally
long inclines and level ridge walks. The same is true with the roller coaster
of life. Happy times are quickly followed by sad times, then happy times
again. Ecclesiastes 3 speaks of the ups
and downs in life – a time to cry, a time to laugh; a time to mourn, a time to
rejoice; a time to live, a time to die. The question is how we handle these ups
and downs.
Christ himself experienced every emotion while living on
this earth. He experienced times of joy,
times of sadness, times of anger, and times of compassion. Thankfully, he overcame his greatest and most
terrible obstacle – his crucifixion and subsequent death. Facing an agonizing death and being
separated from the Father while he bore the sins of all of humanity, Christ
refused to back down. Keeping this example in mind, how will you handle the
valleys of life?
III. We all have to choose a path
On the AT, there are “white blazes” that keep hikers on the
right path. These are white marks intermittently painted on the trees.
Occasionally, there are double blazes that instruct the hiker to make a turn.
There were several times during our hike that we encountered these double
blazes, and in one instance it wasn’t very obvious which way we should turn. To
the left, there was a trail that looked nice and wide, but to the right, the
path was narrow and looked less inviting. Upon further inspection down each
path, the wide and inviting way had no blazes, but the narrow way did. Which bible passage does this remind you of?
“Enter through the
narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to
destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and
the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
Matthew 7:13
When we came to the crossroad, the wide path to the left looked
the most appealing because it looked easy. However, we chose the narrow path to
the right because it was marked with the blazes. We knew it would eventually
lead to the end of our hike. We had no idea where the wide path to the left
might lead, possibly to our being lost in the woods.
Life gives us the opportunity to choose a path. Will you
choose the wide gate and broad way to destruction, or will you choose the
narrow and difficult path to life? The vast majority will choose an easy life
of sin. Will you be one of Christ’s elite who walks the difficult path of
Christianity to eternal life?
Choosing the narrow path to life doesn’t simply mean
believing in Jesus and calling yourself a “Christian.” You have to believe in Christ (John 8:24),
repent of your sins (Luke 13:3), confess your belief in Him before others
(Romans 10:10), be added to the church through baptism for the remission of
sins (Acts 2:38,47), associate and worship with a local congregation of the one
and true church (Hebrews 10:25), teach others (Mark 16:15), and live faithfully unto death (Revelation
2:10).
Hiking the AT was an awesome experience. You should definitely do it if you get the chance. It just might give you the motivation to seek God and His plan of eternal salvation.
Hiking the AT was an awesome experience. You should definitely do it if you get the chance. It just might give you the motivation to seek God and His plan of eternal salvation.
