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This fifth scene is the first one set in spring time. The young man with dark brown hair, a green shirt & jeans is facing an important decision on his journey along the path of Christian faith. He has come to a point in the path where he has to make a choice, which is illustrated in my picture by a wooden signpost. There are three directions the man can go: 1) Back the way he came, 2) Left towards the “Old way” or 3) Right towards the “New way”.

As in the previous scene (The Christian journey – Scene 04 – First steps on a protected pathway) the fork in the path represents the choices everyone always has, to either continue onwards in their Christian faith journey, or else to turn back towards the kingdom of darkness. God always allows us to have choices throughout our lives, as to which way we will choose to go. Our freedom to choose is a God-given right, but it is one with dramatic, irreversible & eternal consequences, as we will see as we progress through the scenes to the last one.

Notice the man’s backpack is much lighter in this scene, representing the lighter burdens of life that she is experiencing since choosing to follow Jesus on her journey of faith.

Notes about what way the man will go.
Returning the way the man has already come represents turning away from his new Christian life of faith, and retreating back into his past life. In fact that way ultimately leads back to the kingdom of darkness, since that is what he has recently come from. The “Old way” represents a deliberate turning away from Jesus and the Christian life. It is a deliberate decision to return to the kingdom of darkness, illustrated in my picture by a twisting pathway or road that goes towards a skull in the distant mountains. The direction of the “Old way” (the left hand side of the picture) looks bleaker, and more barren, with thorny plants in the foreground, a cobra snake on the track, and increasingly dark & stormy, thunderous weather. The colours I have chosen for that pathway invoke a sense of increasing gloom, despondency & desperation.

In contrast to the gloomy colours of the “Old way” I have illustrated the track leading towards the “New way” (i.e. God’s way) in bright, cheerful, optimistic hues and tones. On the right side of the scene there is vibrant spring growth, with snowdrops, crocuses and new leaves on the trees. There is even a smiling rabbit, poking its head out of its burrow! Notice that the snow is melting, as this scene is the first in the set of 4 illustrations that depict spring in the season of life of the man in the picture. Spring represents the man’s early life, after transitioning into Christianity, and growing in understanding and life experiences.

The “New way” could be entitled “God’s way”, since that direction represents continuing on the path of faith in Jesus as one’s Lord and Saviour. The pathway leads through a charming landscape of purple flowers and brightly sunlit trees, although it should be noted that the man can not see where the pathway leads beyond the forest. Therefore he will need hope & trust that his heavenly Father will direct his steps as he seeks God’s guidance along the twisting, unfamiliar pathway.