On Track

Here we go!  We were headed from Durango to Silverton, Colorado and I wasn’t leaning very far out the window to get this shot.  As you can see ahead of the locomotive, the track curves back and forth. It has to in order to make its way through the mountains.

I think there’s a life application here for Christians.  Sometimes we get overwhelmed by the mountains ahead and we spend time thinking about how we can overcome them, when the best way is making progress upward a little at a time.  I think we read:

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matthew 7:13-14 KJV)

And we think “straight” as in a direct line instead of “strait” as in something that is narrow or constricted – sort of like a train track.  Trains are restricted to that narrow track – leaving it creates multiple problems.  For a Christian, leaving that strait and narrow way causes multiple problems, too.

Making progress forward and upward isn’t leaving the track, as long as we know we are following His will, not our own desires.  Knowing the differences takes Bible reading and prayer.  With those, we can recognize and leave temptations behind:

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV)

My Multiply friend Jilly has a post (here) about a train ride that speaks of our life’s journey, too.  From the time we board at birth until the end of the ride, leaving the train at the final stop, we’ll meet all kinds of people.  Sharing along the way, we all learn from each other.  Just be cautious at stations along the way – keep your own destination in mind.