The paths of Life

Proverbs 14:12  There is a path before each person that seems right,  but in the end it's death.

I'm not exactly sure what the verse means but to me it speaks boldy.  The devil is like a roaring lion seeking to devour anyone in his way (1 Peter 5:8) but he's not going to show you the end result first.  He's going to paint a beautiful picture that you could look at and think "this is it; this is the life God has planned for me".

My brother has a pretty powerful testimony if you ask me.  He was a phenomenal athlete.  Probably from day one, it was known that he was going to be a star baseball or football player.  From a very early age, everyone knew that he had talent.  He had raw, natural talent.  He is a powerhouse.  I believe that my brother first got hurt during his middle school years.  He has since undergone 4 (if I remember correctly) knee surgeries.  That's all he knew was sports.  That's probably all he ever saw himself as was an athlete and someone that would go pro later in life.  To shorten his testimony, he is now serving as a youth pastor at a local church in my hometown.  We always thought we'd be watching him entertain thousands in a football arena but now we all see the big plan God had for my brother.  Instead of entertaining people as a football player, he's touching lives daily that will impact them for eternity.

Had my brother not gotten hurt and gone on to play pro ball, I believe his life would have had a different outcome.  His life could have gone down the road of an alcoholic.  He struggled with alcohol during his younger days but God has delivered him.  I still get emotional when I watch football games because I know the talent my brother had and I know his love for the game.  But what really gets me teary eyed is seeing him on Sunday mornings before a crowd at church.  God had a path for my brother that would impact others far more than he ever would have on a football field.  God has made him a pro "athlete" that will forever change the lives of some of his biggest fans.  (God causes all things to work together for His good Romans 8:28)

Be cautious about the path that may look like a dream at this moment because in the end, it could lead to death.  Always seek wisdom.  Always seek God's word.  Always ask to see things through the eyes of God.  When life doesn't make sense, sit back and just trust God is working on something great.