The One Less Traveled: Introduction

Title: "The One Less Traveled: Introduction | Pastor Joel Mason (Sunday Service)" URL: "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OJOzbfLEdM" Transcript: "(00:00) Okay, I'm going to interrupt the conversations. Good morning. I am glad that you are here and uh for those of you are online, thanks for joining us this morning. Glad that you can be part of it as well. All right, first I want to just say from a personal perspective, thanks to all the guys that showed up yesterday to help uh with our our move. (00:24) We are trying to make this the longest move possible in the history of humanity. Um, so we I think calculated we're maybe halfway through our move now. Um, all that means is because we're doing work in the house, we're moving things in sections, but we had at least 10 people show up yesterday and uh it only took I think was it 45 minutes or right around 45 minutes to empty the two pods that were in our driveway. (00:50) So I was thrilled. So thank you very much. And uh the only thing that was that there were a couple things that were funny. One was we have an arnoa that uh it's fairly heavy and we had a bunch of guys on it. It just cracks me up thinking about okay on three we're going to lift. One, two, three. And nothing moved. (01:08) It was like nothing happened. Kevin's like, "Okay, you're supposed to lift on three, right?" Okay. So anyway, that that was fun. Um had a good time. And then there were those that were knocking Nate for not being there. And um [laughter] and but I I'm going to stand up for Nate now. First I thought it might be he wasn't there because he got his haircut and he lost his strength. (01:35) But um the [laughter] but then he informed me he never had any strength before. So it was okay. [laughter] Um let's see. No, Nate, he had a noble reason for not being there. um our uh missionary family that from South Africa are returning the end of this month, the Schwitzers, and Nate is lending them his car and he felt like the brakes had to be fixed, so he was doing the brakes on the car before he lent. (02:02) So, I know he's better than me, I have to say. So, well done, Nate. So, yes, all that. Why am I talking about all that stuff? I have been thinking about um something this this thought goes through my mind on a number of occasions and again I'm letting you into the scary parts of the recesses of my wanderings. Um oftent times I wonder if we really know [sighs] how to understand God and how to relate to him. Maybe it's just me. (02:37) So if it's just me today you get to hear. But I wonder if it's not all of us. And I think one of the things that has occurred especially for us growing up in the west and western Christianity there is a difference. I want you to know that around the world not not the heart of the message of the gospel is not different. (02:58) The approach to God is different in different parts of the world. And so that's what I guess we could say is a cultural influence maybe or there are different things that go on. But one of the what I think is a weakness of western Christianity is we always try to comp compartmentalize things. We try to figure it out. We put it in a box and if we're comfortable with it in that box and we put that box up on the shelf to pull down when we need it. (03:24) We reason we are I'll put that way. We are reasonbased in oftentimes in the way that we approach things. And so we try to become reason based in our approach with God. And what that will often do is it separate or separates out uh the the uh intellectual aspect of our consideration of God from our emotional relationship with God and how we incorporate God into the things that we do. (03:50) even things like moving heavy ironwis and nobody's lifting or or doing things mowing a lawn or buying groceries at the grocery store. We don't see that God is actually uh desirous to be part of that element in in the way that we approach life in the west. And so I've been doing some reading in in rejun in conjunction with that just trying to how do we relate to God? And here's why I've been doing that reading. (04:17) is because of the fact that I talk oftentimes with people that um want to they'll approach me as give me how to have a relationship with God. Tell me what I have to do to have a relationship with God. And see that right there the question is asking in my opinion slightly wrong. Yes, you should have a relationship with God. So don't hear me. (04:45) I'm not I'm saying that's that's what God intends. But often in that question, we are asking give me the five-step process so I can say that I have a relationship with God and I can check that off and feel I have arrived or accomplished it. We are accomplishmentoriented. We want to okay, I pull God down. I've done okay. (05:08) Let's see. It says to pray. I did that. It says to read my Bible. I did that. It tells me I shouldn't be mean to my neighbor. I'm working on that one. And you see, so we have the checklist and that's what we think is relating to God. I'm going to tell you to at least a certain degree that's not relating to God. (05:32) That to too often is trying to appease the God we think exists or make ourselves feel less guilty. One of the things that really um surprises me that I listen to and watch and this is not just for those that want to be a follower of Jesus. This is in our culture as a whole. How deeply embedded there is a sense of guilt. Have you noticed that yet? It we are we feel guilty about all kinds of things. (06:00) We may not say we feel guilty, but guilt often drives the things that we do. And so we look and go, okay, I believe there's a God. I believe Jesus uh is God's son and that he came to to remove sin. And so that means I must be bad because sin had to be removed. So therefore, only way that God can love me is if I recognize that I'm a sinner. (06:25) And then I will go through the process that God requires. And at the end, I feel good. But too often it's driven by a sense of guilt. God is not desirous of you and I to live our lives in a continuous state of guilt. Do you understand that? I hope that you do. God desires for us. And here's like I said, you got to you're going to get some wandering with me this morning, but it all is coming to a point. (06:56) Okay? If we don't understand who God is and we just want to compartmentalize him and out of a sense of well, I've got to do the right thing to make God happy. Some point we're going to get tired of that. Have you grown tired of trying to please God? Because I think that's a challenge for many. (07:24) One of the things that I've been reading is that um there is a real shift in Christianity today in our country. The generations that are coming up and I and this breaks my heart but they there is not an understanding of desiring to live a life reflective of knowing God in the details of our lives. We've made God for the younger for this younger generation. (07:52) And I'm taking this not from my opinion of this, but of conversations and studies that have been done and all these things. There's a there's a actually a fairly strong belief in the younger generations that God exists. They desire to know God, but they really feel like, well, maybe generation messed it up. (08:13) And so in that, we'll just kind of um we'll just do our thing and say there's a God. And so, do you see how that kind of creates a divide of what I see as the God of the Bible who is present and exists and loves every one of us and being able to know him but not surrender to him, not be not be transformed by him. And I use that word in a very positive way. (08:40) God is God should overwhelm you from the moment you take your first breath in the morning. But we have lost that sense of being awed by God because we started by trying to compartmentalize, understand and control. And then we we put that with a guilt runs heavy in our culture. I don't want to feel guilty. (09:04) I'm going to just kind of live what I like and hope that God's happy in that process. So hopefully I'm not just confusing you this morning. Hopefully I'm you're walking with me here and looking at this the ways that we tend to tend to consider God. One of the things that I was reading that I appreciated is was the struggle that we have had in Western Christianity with the concept of the trinity. (09:34) Anybody want to give me a quick explanation of the trinity? You see, because of the fact that we so are we're so desperate to have things we can define A leads to B and B leads to C and therefore I'm happy. We do that and then we try to apply it back to a God that doesn't run ABC. You understand that he doesn't. (09:57) And so we have made as as one author I was reading said uh in in our theology today in the approach to to trying to live with God, we have made God more of an a mathematical equation. If we can make God add up in the circumstances of our lives, then I'm okay with God. And especially when it comes to understanding God as a triune God, how do I explain that? So, I've got to kind of be able to add those things up and then does it make any difference in my life? For many and most followers of Jesus in our culture today, the concept (10:37) of the Trinity has no real impact. Make it personal. Does that impact your life in any way? That God presents himself as a triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. For most of us, we go, that's that's keep that in the church building. That's theology. We'll leave that over there. But life is intended for you to be a practical theologian so that you can know and love God. (11:10) And so, here's what I want you to wrestle with. God existed before you were his thought. But when God created you, he created you very unique and with an intent. What was that intent? True for every one of us sitting here today. As unique as your face is, and as I look around, some of your faces are very unique. No. (11:45) Um, [laughter] I mean that in the most positive way. [laughter] As unique as your face is, as unique as your relation God should be because he knew you. Now, I know you're thinking, Joel, are you going to get to a point here? Actually, I'm getting you gotten to the point and probably just don't realize it yet because well, anyway, I'm foggy out there today. (12:13) No, here's where I'm going. God existed before you and I existed. God existed perfectly as a triune God. There was community. There was relationship. As one author I read put it. There was an eternal dance that was taking place that we cannot fully explain or comprehend. God in his fullness, perfectly existing, desired to invite us into that perfect existence and created us to know him. (12:52) Not just as the son, not just as the father, not just through the Holy Spirit, but as one. And in that invitation to know to breathe to exist for the joy of God and for us to know life. Okay, hold that thought. Go back to what I started with. If we have separated God into a theological or a mathematical equation, where do you fit within this dance of the perfection of God? We can't. (13:32) That's what I want you to understand is that too much of our efforts has been an effort to control God so that we maintain an understanding and a sense of ease rather than being overwhelmed and awed by God. You were intended to dance in the presence of God. How when is the last time you danced in the presence of God? The sun rose this morning. (14:07) It's an absolutely beautiful day out there. Did you meet God in the sunrising? Today, uh I was listening or saw something somewhere. Today is is it June 14th? Is that what the date is today? um tonight in the stars or in the heavens the there are three planets that will be visible and I'm trying to remember Venus, Jupiter and Mars I believe and uh Mercury Mercury in the evening sun and right at the horizon you can see them with the naked eye. (14:42) Tomorrow morning when the sun comes up is the time when you can actually see Mars and uh Saturn I think. So you can tonight you can see with your eye five of the planets in our solar system. And in fact tonight is the clearest night that you can look out to the southwest and see the heart of the Milky Way. But my guess is most of us will go to bed without ever considering or being overwhelmed by that God, [clears throat] we have a tendency to miss the dance. (15:34) And you've been invited to the dance. You've been invited to enjoy what God created. To not just see it and go, "Oh, that's nice." but to interact with it as a being in the hands of your creator who is mindful of you and cause you to be mindful of him. We are always in such a hurry to satisfy something that will pass in a moment rather than to relish that which will never go away. (16:20) Your soul was created to breathe in the dance of God, his presence, his creation, his design, his mindful intent for you to live in the midst of what he has created. Do you see that connection? We have lost that connection. You were uniquely created to enjoy the presence of God in this world that he made for you and I. (16:51) Do you dance with God? Now, some of you going, "But I can't. I can't dance. Neither can I." But there's no greater joy than to know and to walk in and to let yourself breathe in a God who expresses himself in a triune nature and calls you into that dance. A father who loves you with such intensity. A son who is so humble that he wanted to satisfy that father's love. (17:33) and a spirit that will never let you go from the hands of that loving God. Before we walked the face of this earth, that's who God was. We became the expression of those to know it, to experience it, to surrender to it, and to be transformed by it. To recognize sin and that which is wrong and offensive to God is not a matter of being guilty that enough to the point where I feel like okay I'll give it up but instead to be how can I be so so overjoyed in my relationship with God that I want to hang on to something that that pushes (18:23) him away. Where is life in that? Don't you see this is what Jesus taught? Jesus taught the simplicity of a relationship. In fact, I've been reading through the Old Testament and that relationship comes out over and over again. It's not in an interest of keep my laws, but let my laws protect you so you don't step off the dance floor. (18:52) Stay in the dance. know me, love me, enjoy me, and I will be there and I will pour into you. Brian took us through the book of of Job last week and there was a beautiful picture in the midst of his suffering, wasn't there of that dance with God that God was mindful of Job? And in the midst of all that was going wrong and everything that God allowed, Job could still know that God was there. (19:31) And there were things that he had to learn. Do you understand what I just said right there? There were things that Job had to learn. But God was more than willing to allow him to learn. Let me ask you this. Do you think Job was any different from first day we meet him to the last day we read about his life? Do you think there was any difference? Do you think God, how do you think he would describe God to you and I sitting here? He would go, "What is this mess that you've created?" God is a God who wants to be known, and (20:04) he already knows you. All he says is, "Walk with me. Be aware of me. Look up in the night sky and see, you know what? I named each one of those, but I know you. Look at the Yesterday I was watching on on our property. There's there is a uh somebody has dumped two chickens. So I now call them the wild chickens [snorts] and they are hilarious to me because they'll sneak out but as soon as you turn any attention to them they run back in under the bushes and and uh so they're living their life. But I kind of wondered if (20:43) I'm somewhat like that chicken go I venture out and I'm pecking at the ground. I'm getting my stuff. I'm doing my things. OH, THERE'S A PROBLEM. I THINK THEY'RE BOOM. I run back and hide where I think I am safe. But God goes, "You're no more safe under the bush than you are out in the open because I am enjoying your presence and you should enjoy mine. (21:10) All of this is me. I'm I'm I'm shining forth for you. Know me, walk with me, love me." All of these wanderings in my head have led me to a poem that you're probably fairly familiar with. I'm not going to read the whole thing. It's not very long anyway, but I just want to look at the last stanza. (21:33) It's a poem by Robert Frost. Now, you probably know what poem I'm going to read to you. And the last stanza says this. I shall be telling this with a sigh. Somewhere ages and ages hence. Two roads diverged in a wood [snorts] and I I took the one less traveled by [clears throat] [snorts] and that has made all the difference [snorts] There's something in that poem and I could take it. (22:17) I'm not here to look at the poem. I want to look at God's word. But I like the heart of what this poem is saying. And I just want to catch a couple lines there. He said, "I shall be telling this with a sigh. Summer ages and ages hence." So in other words, when life [snorts] grows slower and things grow dimmer, I will look back [snorts] and I see that sigh. (22:39) In fact, the the poem itself seems to indicate it's not a sigh of regret, but a sigh of I made the right choice. Made the right choice. Two roads diverged in a wood and I I took the one less traveled by and that has made all the difference. Here's what I want to put before you today. (23:05) We're going to start a new series today. In fact, I am calling it the way less traveled or the one the one less traveled by. You and I have a choice. Often times we don't understand that choice. We've again we've narrowed down that choice of choosing choose Jesus or don't choose Jesus and then go your way. No, Jesus in fact described it differently than that. (23:32) Do you understand that? He said you got to choose him. I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father but through me. But you know what he also said? It's in the small aspects and details of life. Right now, I'm looking out and I see the wind blowing leaves on trees out here. Does that make any difference to the fact that I realize that God rides those winds? Do I surrender enough of my mind to the soul my soul that I can relate to the presence of God? I'm not wanting to give you a list. (24:10) In fact, we've done two series here recently the backtoback that have given you a way to understand what it is to to have a faith, what that faith should produce and who you should become. We've looked at the promises of God and how God has revealed himself. So God wants us to become a person that knows him and he's revealed his character. (24:29) How's it come together? But now I want to move it away from an intellectual understanding because I'm too afraid that we are going to get to the point where we start checking lists and we say we've arrived and we have not arrived if I can't look out and see the shuttering of that leaf that indicates the presence of my God. (24:49) God is not a a a tyrant who demands that you meet a list. He is a loving father who gave his son so you could surrender to that which is keeping you from him. Surrender to him so that can be taken from you. That you can walk in obedience with him. And we hear these words and in our culture they're words that oh no I don't want to be obedient. (25:16) God says they're lifegiving words because in obedience you know me. Character moves from a concept to a relationship and a transformation and I know my God. So when I can rise in the morning, I breathe in because of him and I'm mindful of it. I exhale and go, God, every breath that comes out with the words that may be attached, may they reflect you. (25:45) Not because I have to mark a list. I was kind today, but because I want to hear your voice in my words. allowing us to draw in that when things go bad and when things break and when this decaying world begins to squeeze in effect, it doesn't touch the existence of my God because he is my breath. He is my sight. He is my hearing. (26:21) All of it through his presence. I know my God and he knows me. We too often, this is one thing I picked up as I've been reading through the Old Testament. And I was reading some other companion books and some other things and [snorts] and uh one author was talking about the fact that the Old Testament um in fact there was a there was a big uh controversy here not too long ago when some of you may know uh Andy Stanley that name ring a bell. (26:55) He's written a lot of books. who pastors a church in Atlanta and he wrote a book and came out and said that we really as people took it said we don't need the Old Testament anymore and that caused what do you mean you can't say that but I really I'm not saying whether he's right or wrong on what he was saying there but I think what the challenge is is that that kind of mentality can come come out that the Old Testament is just that it's old and it was relating to different people at a different time for a different purpose (27:24) we don't need the Old Testament >> [snorts] >> But the Old Testament has been just screaming out to me. It's the same God. And all he has wanted is for people to see him and know him. Not because he's insecure, but because he knows that he created us for that purpose. He doesn't want us to have a heavy burden in life. (27:52) That burden only comes when I can't wake up in the morning and say, "God, thank you. God, where are you? God, what what will we do today? What do you have in store for me? What do I need to learn?" So, you see, it's a radical it it's some recall it way. You're walking in a path and it's that path less worn by others. (28:16) It's the one that very few choose. Jesus said it's a narrow path because it the other path has to be wide because everybody chooses that one. Choose my way and it's narrow but in it you'll find life. You will be alive in ways that you can't describe to other people. You will understand what's going on around you even when everything is falling apart. (28:39) When [snorts] when something isn't working the way it is is supposed to work, you don't panic. You just go, God, I'm sitting here waiting to see what I'm supposed to learn. What do you want with me? Not what do you want from me? Why am I suffering? But what do you want from me? Is there a reason why you've brought me to this point? Everything in you has a purpose. (29:01) I'll surrender till you show me the purpose. And we will walk together in this because there is joy in this journey with a loving God who is in a dance that he invited me into to know his presence as a loving father, a sacrificial son and an indwelling spirit. And I am part of that. Can I explain it? Not fully. But it isn't for me to explain God. (29:25) It is for God to explain my life so that I have it full in relationship with him. Why do we try to set God in a box and we don't realize that when the lid closes on that and we're comfortable mentally, we separated from our soul from its creator and we suffer. God us know life to dance with him. So this morning in this series, I invite you to the dance floor to dance. (29:56) Don't worry who's looking. In fact, the ugliest dance before God radiates his glory for the world to see. Stop [snorts] looking for the world to give you approval and find the joy of dancing with God. >> [snorts] >> In this series, we are going to be going through the book of Psalms. And we're not going to go every psalm. (30:31) We're going to go a few different psalms. And I'm going to also give some credit here. I've been enjoying listening to uh John Ortberg doing a a series uh also on Psalms. And that's what kind of got me thinking about this. Some things kind of came together. I thought, you know what, this is worth thinking about. (30:48) He approaches that in his series on the concept of how to pray and that psalm the psalms are a a source a resource for praying and they are. So I encourage you as we go through these things let them become the foundation of your prayer. I want to approach it from the perspective of the Psalms are really the letter to those who want to pay attention on how to live and how to dance in the presence of God. (31:19) That's really what they're about. Now, if [snorts] you know the Psalms, like I said, I'm not going to go through every one of them. There's all kinds of expression of emotion in the book of Psalms. Have you picked up on that yet? Here's what I find oftentimes when I'm talking to people is that we approach the Psalms from a perspective of, man, if if I'm having a bad day, I'll go read a psalm that that will make that will cheer me up. (31:44) There'll be something kind of light and airy in there, you know, kind of just fluff, a little bit of fluff in there, but it's a good fluff because it kind of just makes life seem better. The Psalms actually are about the dance. It's an honest evaluation of what it is to dance with God. Sometimes we may feel that God is out of step and we tell him, "God, you're stepping on my feet. (32:13) " And that's what the Psalms do. And God says, "No, no. I think you need to look again. you're stepping on mine because you don't trust me to lead. We sometimes will think that the Psalms are about just a a a simple poem that is expressing an experience for someone and we don't understand. These psalms were gathered with a purpose. (32:40) They were gathered to tell us about the God who invites us to the dance. And in the midst of that, they're the most honest words of what it is to relate [snorts] to God. In the Psalms, you'll find Jesus. In the Psalms, you'll find the Father. [snorts] In the Psalms, you'll meet the Spirit. But all three come together in life. (33:07) And so again, we sometimes will think of and maybe you have or maybe you even thought about this, but Psalms and we'll go, it's [snorts] just a book of these different writings, but do you understand they had to be collected and put together with a purpose and God's purpose is behind them. And so today, real briefly, just a few minutes, I want to take us to the first psalm because it was put number one for a reason. (33:33) [snorts] And it leads back to the poem that I read to you a moment ago. I shall tell uh shall be telling this with a sigh. Somewhere ages and ages hence. Two roads diverged in a wood and I took the one less traveled by and that has made all the difference. This in the book of Psalms is a map to the road less traveled by. Psalm chapter 1. (33:57) In fact, you know what I would like to do? I'm going to read this to you. Uh but would you stand with me as we listen to the words of God? Psalm 1, blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way of sinners. Uh uh that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord and who meditates on his law day and night. (34:28) That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever they do prospers, not so the wicked. They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore, the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction. (34:52) You can sit down and while I'm up, this psalm is what's called a wisdom psalm. and it gives insight to life. It's why it's called the wisdom psalm. We can choose to listen to it or we can read it and go that's really that's nice that's good words and move right on from it. But this psalm is also has been chosen as the introduction to the rest of this collective for a purpose. (35:28) It is telling us how to read the rest of the Psalms, but not just read them with our eyes and connect them to our minds, but how to incorporate them and walk in life. This is the path. This is the way let's traveled by. So, let's just break this down for just a minute. He uses the word blessed. That word blessed, maybe I'll use uh John Ortberg put it this way and I think he's he's right on that. (35:58) That word could better be translated flourishing. Flourishing is the one and then put that that concept in there. It's not we we don't fully understand that word blessed in our culture today. It was the idea that the author is saying look the life of this person that I'm going to describe to you the one who understands the it puts their foot on the path this that person will flourish and this is what the flourishing looks like. (36:24) Okay. So flourishing is the one who does not walk in the step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers. It's very interesting. The author of this word is saying, "Look, I'm opening the gate for you now." And you're going to step out on that path. (36:42) But I'm going to tell you first of all what's not on this path. In fact, you're this path goes this way. Now, if you want this other path, you can choose it. You have that choice. Two roads diverge. You can choose on [snorts] this path. This is what you don't do. You don't walk in the step with the wicked or stand in the way of sinner that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers. (37:05) Does anything jump out to you right there? There's a progression. There is a progression being stated on this path. It is the one that diverges. And he's saying to you and to me, if you are choosing to become familiar with and you're out walking with the and and here's let me put one other thought in there because it's important for us to understand. (37:33) We will look at this and read um you know step with stand uh walk in the step of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the company of mockers. And it talks about the um you know down at the end uh but the way of the wicked leads to destruction. So we start looking for the wicked and we think if okay I just have to avoid these people and I'm okay. (37:58) That's not what he's actually saying. He is describing a way of life. He is saying that there are those who are wicked. Yes. But that wickedness is because of the choice and the path that they are on. That is a path. And here's what is even more important to understand is he is telling those that will listen right here at the point where you're making your choice. (38:22) He's describing you with both descriptions. He's describing me with both righteous and wicked. Now on this path, the one less traveled is the path where you choose righteousness, where you choose what is right. Or you can begin the progress and the progression of walking and becoming familiar with what it is to be farther and farther from God. (38:52) You're walking and pretty soon you're becoming comfortable. Not comfortable enough that you kind of hang around with the thoughts that are absent of the existence of God. God becomes further distant because you left and diverged from and you are now down this path. You are now becoming very comfortable. so comfortable to the point that you begin to sit and familiarize yourself with those thoughts, those actions, those behaviors, those the way of just living that can't consider a leaf wrestling on a tree, that can't find the pleasure of dancing (39:31) with God, who maybe by this time you can describe God to someone and say that he exists but it doesn't influence the way you dance before him. It doesn't have that influence because you've been become comfortable with elements and voices that tell you you can never really know God. You can never really please him. You're not good enough. (40:04) You can choose your own way. God just wants to make you check a list. God just demands things of you. You do what pleases you. And you see, we live give oursel more and more and more and more to the influence of a life that's divergent from the narrow path that leads to life. You know what's really interesting is that God has been very clear. (40:26) He doesn't let you guess. He two roads diverge. I wonder where they go. You know what really is interesting with God is he tells you exactly where they go. He's been he's really clear about it. Jesus was really clear about it. It's [snorts] no question, well that road I can't quite see where it end goes, but hey, it's okay that it wouldn't go that way. (40:47) This one, maybe it leads to me, maybe it doesn't. I'm not sure. No, God's been very, very clear. If you don't know that, you need to go read your Bible a little bit. Start in the life of Jesus and he will talk about it. [snorts] Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you know we've gone through that but what is Jesus talking about the path that leads to life. (41:14) You see God is not a mystery to be somehow figured out. He is a person and a being that desires for you to know him in the midst of the decisions of your daily life. Are you walking with God? So he takes us down and he begins by saying what is not. But he then says what it is. But those whose delight uh is in the law of the Lord and who meditate in his uh law day and night. (41:47) That person's like a tree planted by streams of water which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever they do prospers. [snorts] I want you to catch. He said here's what you don't do on this path. and on this path instead is a path of delight in the law of the Lord. Now that word law can be confusing in a context of mind. (42:09) It doesn't mean that I go and spend my uh uh every morning I have to pull my Bible out and I go into the book of Leviticus and I start reading in there again and I'm going man this is just man this is just lifechanging right here. [snorts] Um if you haven't read the book of litivated I guess you'll know that I'm being facitious but at the same time it is lifechanging but it's not if we think that to meditate on God's law is just to know okay you can't wear you know a cotton uh any garment with cotton or you can't do you know you see there are reasons for that and they (42:39) are culturally specific and they are purposeful but what he's saying the law that he's referring to is the law of the dance it's the ability to see the exist existence of God in my every day. Can I can I lift my eyes up and see the blue of the sky? Can I enjoy the night sky and be overwhelmed by the number of stars? And that there is a God who says, "Yeah, pretty amazing, isn't it? Wait, if you could see the southern side of that, if you can see, if you could see what I hold in my hand, I can show you all kinds of things (43:12) because I created you to know the joy of my creation. You [snorts] are unique to me and you're wonderfully made and I made all of this for you. That's the law of the Lord. A law that says the existence of God as he expresses himself influences and impacts my life that I want to know what will please him and obey so that he bring joy to him by the breath that I take. (43:41) That's the law of the Lord. They meditate on it day and night. It's always in their mind. It's always aware book of Joshua. What does he tell him when he's facing a situation? He takes over from Moses [snorts] tells him the very same thing. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night. (43:58) This is you've got to know and be so overwhelmed. Your life has to be around the existence of God. And you need to dance in the midst of his existence. a loving father who gave all for you so that you might know the joy of his creation. And then he gives you the ability through his spirit to truly become one who can live and dance in his presence. (44:26) It is the way less traveled by, but it's a choice. And we get on into that verse a little bit further and he [snorts] talks about uh they be planted by streams of water which yields fruit in season whose leaf does not wither and whatever they do prospers. It is a picture of the prosperity the fruit the the the the bounty of my life becomes an expression of where I'm drawing my life from. (44:53) That's exactly what he's telling to us now. He's saying on this path when you make a choice, this one it leads to destruction. This one you will be produced even when you may be like Job and life is hard and difficult and challenging and friends don't like you and they walk away from you and you fail uh financially and your education doesn't get you what you want and your relationships are falling apart on every corner. (45:20) But you're walking with me, it will bear fruit in its season and whatever you do will prosper. That is meditating on the law of the Lord. Not being determined by the circumstances and the things that I am experiencing, but experiencing and loving the presence of God in the midst of all that is taking place. And God will allow for his prosperity and his fruit to be produced in me. (45:46) Then he goes on to say, "Not so the wicked." Now see the wicked, again, I'm telling you, he's talking about the choice you have. That choice begins within us. Not so the wicked, they are like chaff that the wind blows away. It's interesting the word chaff that he's using here. And what he's wanting to connect that with is he's saying you can make choices in your life that are worthless. (46:12) Oh, they seem so important, so valuable, so necessary, and they're gone in an instant. Nothing to show for them. That can be relationally, that can be financially, that can be emotionally. You can make choices, but he says they're like chaff. They are like the the wind comes along and it just just blows away almost like dust, but you invested so much into it. (46:37) You see what is the difference between the one that is investing in in in verse four, not so the wicked, they are like chaff that the wind uh blows away. Why? It's where they invested their life. It's the choice that they made. God is eternal. On the path that leads to him are things that will matter for eternity. (47:00) Because every time you are able to rejoice in the presence of your God, you are investing in the kingdom of God. And that's what Jesus said, isn't it? Invest in the kingdom of God. Live life in the daily with God. And therefore, the wicked will not stand in the judgment or sinners in the assembly of the righteous. when that time comes and even it's it's even in the presence of the day. (47:25) It is the the wicked won't stand before God. We read that word judgment and we often take that as being oh man there's going to be a judgment. It's it's allowing God to determine what is right and wrong. So judgment is today too, not just someday down the road where the Bible tells us we will give an account of our lives. (47:45) This is a this is the the the wicked won't stand in the judgment. It's a good thing to stand in the judgment of God because he's determining what is right and wrong for you. I want to be in the judgment of God so that my life will be found worthy, not determined by me, but by him. And then the last verse, for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction. (48:17) You've just been introduced to a choice. You have a choice. Two roads diverge in the woods. God is saying every human being has that choice within them. A choice that leads to life to prosperity. Not not prosperity as the world defines it. Prosperity in the judgment of God. Or it leads to destruction. The things you invest in blown away. (48:48) No hold to for eternity. Nothing even for tomorrow. Which road will you take? Use two metaphors here this morning. One is that we have a path. And this is what we've talking about. We have a choice. Two roads diverge. And I chose the one less traveled by. I hope you will choose the one less traveled by. (49:09) Here's the cool thing. On that road, you get a dance in the presence of God. It is a life of joy. It's how Paul can say and he literally was saying, "I'm in prison, but I'm dancing in the presence of my God." It's how a Daniel can be thrown in with lions and you know what he said? I can dance in the presence of my God. (49:34) Or his friends thrown into the furnace. And what did they do? There's one in there that's real shiny. God was with them and they danced in his presence. You're given the opportunity in life to dance in the presence of God. Choose wisely. Choose wisely. We're going to be looking at the practical steps of learning how to walk this path that allows us to dance in the presence of God. (50:09)