"Cause me to know the way
wherein I should walk;
for I lift up my soul unto Thee."
(Ps. 143:8)

Perhaps the most significant role of the Word of God is that it inerrantly reveals to us the nature of its Author. Although Creation points to a Creator (Ps. 19:1) and our conscience bears witness that "sin is a reproach" (Prov. 14:34), apart from the Scriptures we have no "knowledge of salvation" and are unable "to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth" (Luke 1:77; 1 Tim. 2:4). As N. A. Woychuk points out in Thus Says the Lord, "There is only one way to heaven, but there are many secret paths that lead to hell." The only way to avoid these "secret paths" of destruction is to know "know Him that is true. . .even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life" (1 John 5:20).

Of course the Scriptures not only reveal the commandments of God; they also reveal the power of God and His many "wonderful works" (Ps. 40:5). The parting of the Red Sea points to the omnipotence of Him who promised, "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee" (Isa. 43:2). The preservation of Daniel in the lions' den undeniably confirms that "with God nothing shall be impossible" (Luke 1:37). The cleansing of the leper attests the ability of Christ to also "forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).

We also see the faithfulness of God revealed in the promise that He "will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able" (1 Cor. 10:13); the justice of God manifested in the suffering of "the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God" (1 Pet. 3:18); the holiness of God declared by hosts of angels (Rev. 4:8); and the love of God demonstrated "in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8).

Few things affect your relationship with God more than your perception of Him. The Scriptures accurately reveal the nature of God and make it possible for us to enjoy "the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord" (1 Cor. 1:9). And while it may indeed be possible to know the truth and willingly "reject the word of the Lord" (1 Sam. 15:23), walking daily in the "path of life" (Ps. 16:11) is only possible to those who sincerely pray with the Psalmist, "Order my steps in Thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me" (Ps. 119:133).

"For I am the LORD,
I change not;
therefore ye sons of Jacob
are not consumed."
(Malachi 3:6)

I write these words on a breezy Missouri morning, as I enjoy the view from the peak of Taum Sauk Mountain - the highest point above sea level in my home state. My laptop is at home. My cell phone is turned off, and the only thing distracting me from writing is a sky of billowing clouds and a horizon met by rolling hills.

As I reflect on the twelve months that have passed since I last visited this mountain, to say much has changed in my life would be an understatement. In a way, I've climbed many mountains of my own during that time, and my vision of the future was often obscured by a fog of uncertainty. God's love, grace, and provision was stretched out before me, but I rarely took time to enjoy the view.

As I consider Paul's exhortation to "walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Cor. 5:7), I have to believe he was looking ahead to times when faith would be his only strength to keep walking. He knew days would come when it would be hard just to put one foot in front of the other, and that failure would be certain if his continued walk depended on favorable circumstances. And so he resolved not to walk by sight, but entirely "by the faith of the Son of God" (Gal. 2:20).

David's prayer in Psalm 61:2 was simple: "From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I." The visitor to this mountain may be subject to change and sometimes overwhelming circumstances, but the Maker of the mountain remains steadfast, unmoving and unchanging through it all.