THREE PATHS
Which path to choose in life? Naive wonders. Then he meets the Counselor and learns to know the Kings decrees.
THREE PATHS
In a vast Kingdom nestled in rolling hills, there was a land of deep valleys and high mountains. Along these valleys and mountains were three paths. Some paths traveled to high peaks and some went to low depths. Through it was a path that stayed even at all times, or so it seemed. The wise were said to live in the higher elevations, in the mountains. The foolish tended to live in the valleys or even lower. It was preposterous to think that anyone ever intended to live in those deep areas. Most however thought it was wise to stay somewhere in between.
In the highest peak there lived a wise man named Counselor, who characterized wisdom. He was known throughout the Kingdom for his deep understanding and kind heart. Known for His parables and riddles, He designed them to bring the traveler out in much thought.
He often came down from the mountain of the King to minister to the people. Being sought after for advice and guidance, he was always willing to lend an ear to those in need. He also knew that many sought advice but few were willing or able to take and use it.
A common area of counsel would be about the three paths in life, the higher, middle and the lower paths.
So one day, when Counselor was in the main square of town talking, a young boy named Naive came to him with a troubled look on his face. Naive had been facing a dilemma in his life and didn't know what to do. He approached Counselor and said, "I'm facing difficult decisions in my life. You speak of the different paths that life can take. I do not understand. How does one come to know the difference and which one to take?” He asked.
Counselor replied with a riddle.
"Higher path, middle path, or lower path. Which one shall you choose?
In life's vast maze, there are decisions to peruse and never excuse. Naive, my dear boy, fret not and never be in dismay,
For within you indeed, the answer may lay.
Tell me, young lad, your troubles and strife,
Together, we'll navigate this journey of life.
In this riddle, there is a clue that I do use,
You must seek wisdom, to not be confused.
It is about which path you choose from the start.
So I ask you now, where lies your heart?
“I’m not quite sure.” The lad replied.
“A truth that is difficult for some is to know that there are really only two paths not three. However I shall explain all three to you and allow you to tell me why.” Counselor continued.
“The lower path is often the easiest to see.
Full of temptations and false promises of any easy life. The lower path of frustration and discouragement can come from a dillusioned life because of false expectations and false visions. Vanity and selfishness live here in abundance.”
“And their own pride keeps them from changing right?” Naive asked.
“True. Empty hopes of riches abound, but without true wisdom to guide them it becomes mere vanity. Thievery and robbery lie in wait for the fool who dares to venture this path. Some may take this path and learn from their mistakes and return to the higher path. Sadly many unwittingly become deadened by its life robbing walk allowing their hearts to become hard as stones.”
The Counselor said and continued.
“The middle path is often called normal. It has several fun areas like dead religion, church, social clubs, charities, occupational ambition, promises of riches, luxury, entertainment and occupational success. There are daily activities in all of these that enrich followers lives. Many of these things truly help them be better human beings and are of earthly value, but few of these sojourners ever really grow in their faith because of the distractions. You see they never really learned to hear the Kings decrees. So in the end, they are not on the path of the King. In reality their path ends in the lower regions, though few will recognize it as so. A wise king of old called this kind of living, vanity of vanities. Good in themselves but of no eternal value.” Counselor advised.
“Those are very good, I don’t understand. For if these are not good then how do you live for eternal things? Naive asked.
“Like I said, it comes from where you start.
It comes from where you place your heart.”
Counselor said.
“Ok, fine sir, now I have two friends, named Justify and Edify and we all have the same problem. We are merely youth and we must plan our future well. If we don’t, what harm could happen, no one can tell.” He said.
“You speak well, this is true. Go on.” Said the wiseman.
“We have talked with some folks in our young journey and we’re all advised to take the well traveled path of least resistance and more experience. This seems to make good sense. Handle the challenges, a little at a time. But at all costs avoid the thorns that lie in the North path.” Naive paused then continued.
“But then, an old wise man told me about the higher path with many thorns. This North path you speak of. He told us that we must listen for our calling and hearken to its path.” Naive said.
“My brother, the old man was right, yes you must get stronger by knowing the Kings words. Then listen closely to the Him for your next assignment. You must choose the path He shows you to take according to the dreams and quests He puts within you.
Counselor advised.
“He puts dreams inside of us? He asked.
“Most certainly. Likely when you are very young. Let me give you an example: One day the King said to a young warrior in training to pound the ground with all his might. He was advised. “The strength in which you pound will be the length in which you shall go.”
The young man thought it was absurd but still did as He said. For it was contrary to what he knew to be normally true. But nevertheless he did pound, but only halfheartedly. The wiseman raised his forefinger in the air. “Did the young king really listen to the one true King?”
Naive shook his head. “ I don’t think so?”
“Right you are, for this young warrior king did not get very far in his journey. If he had really listened and pounded harder he would have been able to go farther. He could have lived on to be a wise king. Unfortunately he did not really listen.” Counselor replied.
Naive contritely admitted he was beginning to understood and continued on the path.
Suddenly he stopped and paused. He was overcome with emotion.
“I just had a vision sir.” Naive said.
“Tell me young one.” He said.
“I had a vision of being an ambassador to the one true King. I saw myself traveling throughout many lands and bringing the Kings wisdom and also helping others that were willing in their walk. I was responsible for bringing vision to them by sharing the Kings words.” Naive said.
“Well young man, I believe you are to receive this annointing but with this you must go to an upper path often laden with many trials. Your two friends Justify and even Edify may questioned your judgment.”
“That’s ok. I know what I saw was from the King.” Naïve said with a smile.
The Wiseman then invited Naive to sit with him beneath the shade of a great oak tree. He again spoke in riddles, for that was his way of teaching valuable lessons.
"My dear Naive, the Wiseman said. “Imagine you are on a winding path through a dense forest, and you come across a fork in the road. One path is well-trodden and wide, while the other is overgrown with thorns and seems perilous. How will you decide which path to take?"
“I’m not sure…Naive thought what would the King say. “Look at the Kings decrees for guidance?”
“Now you are getting it. Even though a path may be comfortable, if ease and fun, it may not be best. This is where it’s best to seek the Kings decrees according to the vision He has given you. For indeed the level path you might choose could gradually lead to a valley and even deeper. Imperceptibly at first.” He said.
“Then I wouldn’t be able to complete the assignment laid before me if I was in the lower regions?” Naive asked.
“Yes, this is most often correct. Unless the King has you there for a purpose as part of your assignment. Imagine this with me. Along the path you come to a door on the path. Behind the door is the life you dare to dream. You don’t know what to do. Then you recognize the Prince saying:
‘Seek and you shall find. Behold I stand at the door and knock.’
What do you do? You know that behind that door is what you must seek. But only you can knock on that door, only you can seek, only you can find. Which path will you take?” Counselor asked.
Naive thought for a moment and replied, "I suppose I would take the well-trodden path, for it seems safer and others have paved the path for me.” Naïve replied.
“Is it? Counselor raised his eyebrows.
“Well isn’t the path is for those who seek favor, blessings and success. Isn’t it for those who seek to fulfill their assignment successfully? Everyone wants that, don’t they? Doesn’t that mean full approval by the King?” He asked.
The Master replied. “It depends on what the King has shown you. You must ask yourself, have I learned to hear His voice and am I willing to trust Him in this moment? The path of high favor and success is right for different seasons and different people. Like the wise man of old, apostle Paul said. I have learned the secret of being content, in times of plenty or in times of want. Your best path will be dependent on your dream and your assignment.“
He nodded and put his arm forward as if He was carrying an item and continued,
“Now, imagine you have a lantern that can only light up a few steps ahead. You hear voices on both paths, calling you. On the well-trodden path, the voices are loud and comforting, while on the thorny path, they are soft, gentle and very alluring. Which path will you climb?”
Naive pondered the riddle and said, "I’m not sure. If I listen closely to the soft voices on the thorny path, they may guide me with sincerity. But it is most certainly one with many trials and obligations. This path takes you higher, but it is much harder and I may get hurt. Then what good am I? I can help no one. I truly don’t know which is best.”
The Wiseman smiled and said, "You see, my dear Naive, trust is like that lantern. An earthly king once said. ‘Your word, oh Lord, is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.’
It can only show you a little way ahead, and the path you choose should not always be the one that seems easiest or most traveled, do not let this be your guide.”
Counselor advised.
“Well then how can a young man like I, know the way to go?” Naive implored.
“Listen carefully to those whose words are gentle, sincere, and filled with wisdom, that speak to your heart for they will guide you on the path of truth and understanding. Do not be afraid to step out and obey just because you can’t see your way.”
He advised and added.
“Know the Kings decrees..Trust in the King with all your heart…..lean not on your own understanding, in all thy ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path. “
Then with a determined look, Naive said. “Then I shall endeavor to hear the King in all I do.”
“So let me instruct you some more.”
Naive leaned forward to hear.
“The middle path can have amazing music that makes you dance. Worship was been encouraged here on this path. With many joyful dances and raised hands. All in supposed worship to the King. Day after day, year after year people danced to the King. But they did not worship the King with all their hearts. Only with their lips, but not with their lives. They chose to never choose the thorny difficult path even though they heard the King advise them to walk this. They believed the lie the enemy whispered to never get off this level path.” Counselor said and kept talking.
“Many travelers seek the treasure trap on this path of mediocrity. Then others may seek the middle path of blessing with the times of sowing to receive a blessing. If they are just seeking the blessing it can lead to the lower path of blessing.”
“I certainly don’t want that.” Naive said.
“On the other hand, the thorny path of blessing can be filled with difficulties, yet with true treasure gains an elevated life.”
“This sounds so confusing.” He said.
“Not so, Heavens melody is along the thorny path. The land of peace is in the higher elevations in the mountains only available from the thorny path of trials.” Counselor said.
He continued.
“When you take the thorny path with trials and you learn to listen to the King, your dreams of living on the elevated areas in the mountains can come true.”
“Oh that this could really be true.” Naive sighed while biting his lip.
“Set your eyes on the King. The key is hearing His voice.”
“Ok.” Said Naive.
“Often the lower path may be more alluring and the higher path, may have twists and turns and areas of fog where you cannot see. Many may say to play it safe and stay on the well traveled path of experience, but this may truly be the middle path leading nowhere. For don’t you see, there are truly only two paths?”
Naive put his fist to his chin. “Ok. I think so. I believe you are right.” He said.
It was then that he realized he was speaking with the Might Counselor all along.
“May I call you by your true name now? The wise one asked.
“My true name? What would that be Master?” Naive asked.
“I say you are Adept. For you are no longer naive. You have learned to listen to the heart of the Father. This is wise. You have a new mission that I appoint you to as long as you are willing.”
“What is that?” Adept inquired.
“Ambassador.” The Prince said.
Adept was at this moment filled with the Spirit of the King.
“I am willing. It shall be done, let it be so. For all my days “I shall be an ambassador of the one true King.”
Adept left the Prince knowing he was at the start of learning and the understanding, trust and wisdom of the one true King. He realized that sometimes the right path might not be the most obvious one but the one that the Father has given you vision for.
From that day forward, Adept learned to trust not just with his eyes but with his heart. He helped his friends understand the importance of hearing and knowing the Kings decrees. He recognized that he must always keep his heart pure and he continued to walk the path of life with wisdom and grace, just as the wise Master had taught him.
A couple of these life sayings became his favorite. They were from the Kings decrees quoted in a book of proverbs from an ancient earthly king.
“Trust in the King, with all your heart, and in all thy ways acknowledge him, and He will direct your path.”
“I will lift up my eyes to the mountains. From whence comes my help? My help comes from the King, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps His people shall neither slumber nor sleep. The King is your keeper; He is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night. He shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. He shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore.”
For the rest of his life Adept was an ambassador of the King of Kings. The Master, the Mighty counselor, the Prince of peace.
He was often heard advising others on their path. “Fix your eyes on the Master for He is the author and finisher of your faith. Know the Master and you know the King.”
And another of the Kings decrees.
“Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”
©️Donald Schuler
10/8/2023
"The path of life for a wise person leads upward in order to turn him away from hell below." Proverbs 15:24 GWT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqmCggWBmSE