A Crosswalk By Rev. J.

Patrick Bowman By definition, a crosswalk is a path where something (such as a street) can be crossed to get from one side to the other. If we take this definition and broaden it a bit, a crosswalk could be seen as a path across anything to the other side of that anything. For some people the thing they need to cross is the pain of abuse or divorce. For others it might be addictions. For others it might be counterproductive thinking that has become counterproductive attitudes that have produced counterproductive actions. You might know what things are holding you back from experiencing life in a fuller and more rewarding dimension. Or maybe you have no clue to why you are separated from the life you really want. There is a better life on the other side of where you currently find yourself. But to get to the other side you need a crosswalk. Trying to cross your street (you put a name on it) in the wrong way can be dangerous. You may get away with jaywalking on your citys streets, but on the streets of your life, you can get hurt. The Bible has some rich insights into crossing from your darkness into a place of light and peace. Have you ever felt like maybe you were cursed? Have so many things gone bad for you that you wonder if there will ever be light at the end of your tunnel? Does turmoil describe your life to a tee? If you answered yes, you are not alone. Many people feel like they are not living up to their full potential. Could it be you found yourself heading down a path and just lacked the wisdom to know how to get off? Certain books of the Bible are termed wisdom literature, and for good reason. These include the Psalms and the book of Proverbs. The book of Psalms begins with a great crosswalk that is full of insight into crossing your street of current circumstances and finding a much better place on the other side. It reads:
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Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.
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The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
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For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish. First of all we notice the first four very important words- Blessed is the man (or woman). Blessed, in this context, means happy. Do you want more happiness in your life? Has your life become a battle, void of joy and peace? Well the psalm next tells us three places we need to avoid to be happy. The first is to avoid walking in the counsel of the ungodly. Ungodly here means morally wrong. To walk in the counsel of such a person means to follow their example. It is more than just hearing their opinions; it is embracing what they say and following through with their advice. This will not lead to blessing.

Secondly, we need to avoid standing in the path of sinners. To stand is to abide, confirm, or establish. Sinners are those accounted guilty; criminals. This is akin to walking in the counsel of the ungodly, but in a deeper commitment to doing wrong. This is making a firm stand for evil. It, too, shall not lead to blessing. Thirdly, we are not to sit in the seat of the scornful. To sit in the seat is to assume a position of judgment. Scornful people are scoffers and mockers. This is to become so arrogant in wrong doing that no one can reason with us. We see a negative progression here that leads one far away from blessing. Next, we are given good news about what to do! Blessing comes by delighting in the law of the Lord. It is the exact opposite of that which we were told to avoid. When we delight in the law of the Lord, we accept the counsel that God gives us in the Bible. When we delight in the law of the Lord, we abide, confirm, and establish His godly counsel in our hearts by making a stand for what is right. When we delight in the law of the Lord, we become humble before God and affirm His way as the right way. It is making a good judgment about life based on Gods principles. To meditate in Gods law day and night is to make the truths that you learn in Gods word a major part of your thought process. Thoughts turn into attitudes, which become actions. As our minds become renewed, some amazing things will happen. Have you ever thought of yourself as a tree? Well, maybe not, but you can be a fruitful tree when you avoid what God says to avoid and embrace what God says to embrace. A tree planted by the rivers of water speaks of a person close to Gods life and provision. You shall be fruitful in your own season. That means things will happen when they are supposed to happen in your life with good results; seasons of blessing will come. And you wont wither. A trees leaves wither when there is too hot a sun and too little water. God will provide all you need to be fruitful. The right conditions will be there for you; whatever you do will prosper. You will be happy! The psalmist then describes the plight of the ungodly. They are like the chaff of wheat or a dry, fallen withered leaf that the wind blows away. They will be put down in judgment and not be able to stand with the blessed (the congregation of the righteous). We want God to know our way, to recognize and include us with the righteous. We want our way to be a way of blessing. The consequence of not following Gods way is to perish; to be consumed by those things that separate us from God. The Bible calls those things sin. But sin is much more than the actions we do. It is a nature we possess. Our sinful nature keeps us from God. But God made provision for our sin in His son, Jesus Christ. In the gospel of John, chapter 3, verses 16 and 17 say:
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For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. The best example of a crosswalk is Jesus, himself. He provides the way for us to cross the street of sin and go to the other side where God is eagerly waiting. This is the first step and the most important crossing we will ever make.