We Travel an Appointed Way

To the child of God, there is no such thing as accident. He travels an appointed way. The path he treads was chosen for him when as yet he was not, when as yet he had existence only in the mind of God.

Accidents may indeed appear to befall him and misfortune stalk his way; but these evils will be so in appearance only and will seem evils only because we cannot read the secret script of God's hidden providence and so cannot discover the ends at which He aims.

When true faith enters, chance and mischance go out for good. They have no jurisdiction over them that are born of the Spirit, for such as these are sons of the new creation and special charges of the Most High God.

While sojourning here below, these children of the eternal covenant may pay token tribute to nature; sickness, old age and death may levy upon them, and to the undiscerning eye, they may seem to be as other men. Here, as in all its other judgments upon Christianity, the world is completely fooled by appearances, for it cannot see that these believing ones are "hid with Christ in God." (Col. 3:3)

The man of true faith may live in the absolute assurance that his steps are ordered by the Lord. For him, misfortune is outside the bounds of possibility. He cannot be torn from this earth one hour ahead of the time which God has appointed, and he cannot be detained on earth one moment after God is done with him here. He is not a waif of the wide world, a foundling of time and space, but a saint of the Lord and the darling of His particular care.

All this is not mere dreaming, not a comforting creed woven as a garment to warm the shivering hearts of lonely, frightened souls in a dark and unfriendly world. Rather it is of the essence of truth, a fair summation of the teaching of the Bible on the subject and should be received reverently and joyously along with everything else which is taught in the Scriptures of truth.

Here then I doubt no more
But in His pleasure rest,
Where wisdom, love and truth, and power
Engage to make me blest.

The above is an extract from "We Travel an Appointed Way" by Dr. A. W. Tozer

It is very easy for us to take the Word of God or the encouragement from men of God so as to pick what we want to hear. Sadly a majority of today's Christians do this, fulfilling what the Apostle Paul wrote by the Spirit, "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths (2Tim. 4:3, 4). Praise be to God for those who take the teaching of Scripture for what it is, the truth in all its fullness.

May I suggest that you conduct for yourself a small exercise. Take Psalm 37 for example, a portion from which Tozer made reference to in the extract above. Divide a page into two columns. On one side write what the Psalmist tells us of God and what God will do. On the other, write down what the Psalmist tells us we must do. You will then appreciate that in a relationship there must be faithfulness from both parties. Since God is faithful, for He cannot deny Himself (2Tim. 2:13) it remains for us to be faithful. In prayerful surrender lift up the points that you've written in the column that contains what you need to do and in sincerity of faith commit that you will, by the strength of God, make it a reality in your life. Sow this with willing determination. God will then enable you to reap a harvest.

What is the context of Tozer's writing with what I've just said? It is simply this: As we walk in faith and obedience, loving God and clinging to Him with all our heart in total surrender and submissiveness, we will experience God's hand guiding us in His appointed way. We may rest in total confidence, knowing that we are in His perfect will. "His wisdom, love and truth and power engage to make me blest."

Fear will not have a hold on us. Rather, the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard our heart and mind (Php. 4:6, 7). Grace (God's favour) and Peace is what the New Testament constantly proclaims as a blessing to all her children.

We have been created in Christ Jesus to travel an appointed way. A way wrought by God before we were created. A way that is higher than our ways. A way that is for our welfare, not for our calamity; to give us a future and a hope. Let us lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has laid hold of us. We will not be disappointed.