There are many highways that we must travel down within our life time; some lead us into a higher relationship with Jesus Christ and yet others seem to point us in the wrong direction. Unlike our normal navigational devices, we don't have such within our spiritual life. There are some principles, however that do!
- Because God’s Word strengthens our faith in Christ, reading daily will guide our directional path. “ cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17).
- Because God offers us strength through His word “… the word of truth”...we can grow. Truth, like any other word in our language Everywhere we turn on our journey, the concept of truth is questioned that or this and or are there any corroborating facts involved. God declares that His truth is absolute; something we can depend on and follow daily?
- So how can we understand God’s Will for our lives and how does His Will help? (2 Timothy 3:16-17). We search and search for God’s Will, as if it was lost and in need of a discovery. His word is never the meanings behind many of what is offered. Scripture supports Scripture; therefore, never depend on one verse or phrase to support your directional path. Search out other locations to corroborate the intended means.
Getting on God’s Highway of Life is the hardest. Belief / faith are required be the first step. Let’s look at the at the some steps along the way:
- There is but one on-ramp. John 14:6 states: No one comes to the Father except through me who believe that this statement is too narrow and to accept such would specific on-ramp; not giving us the ability to search and accept other ideas. Although specific and narrow a path, it was done for a specific reason. Names define and identify groups or an individual based on and distinguished by to make it or a class level based on authority. If we stray from or try to alternate the name, it become a nickname / a fact-seminally / a copy. We hear this from other people groups that is just a language difference, but in fa copy is – they always try to change the meaning to fit an agenda. Be aware that John 14:6 direction – an on-ramp that much be taken if you are to move in the right direction to your desired final location. Anything else is just a detour.
- Detours fall short on God’s Highway – distractions come and go throughout life; most will not disrupt a pathway, but some will take us down a road that will lead to a dead end. Truckers know, more than any of us, that once committed to a direction, dead ends where you cannot turn around are a problem. What do you do in this situation? Do you try to turn around or back up an 18-wheeler to a place where that is possible? Disruptions in life do occur when we are not fully aware of our surroundings or watchful as to the path we select. Romans 2:23 suggests that we are proud; that we know what is good and bad for us, but still we go ahead down an untested path. "You are so proud of knowing the law, but you dishonor God by breaking it." Every pathway has been tested fully by Him, but we still wish to explore new avenues and if they lead to a dead end, many times we blame others, conditions, circumstances, and or eve God for the outcome. Would it not be better to just trust God as our GPS?
- Correction – no one finds it pleasant to say “I am sorry” or forgive me.” If we have gone down a certain road that has seemly been untested for many hours / days / months / years, saying I am sorry is difficult. Repentance is just that – a means of starting over and having a fresh start. If you are on that road that will come to a dead end in the not so distance future, would it not be logical to turn around at the first opportunity? Correctional path modifications hurt and can be difficult for us and those around us, but change is necessary and I am sorry is a start. Loosing weigh of sin gets rid of a load that we continuously are carrying. Even when we regain our direction compass through repentance, Satan likes to continuously bring our pass up as guilt. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Pathway alteration or correction of a direction is the beginning of a new and specific path that He has determined for your best. It is not a case that would restrict our life, but increases our potential for life in Him.
- Hauling the Right Load – God uses the word “fruit” a great deal in the Bible, but what does that truly look like. In the trucking industry when your refrigeration gives out, the product requiring such a service doesn’t smell too good. If you are to haul the right load, you need to be prepared to have all the supporting equipment. God is the perfect dispatcher and will never allow you to leave the yard without having the right equipment, but we have to do our part – we need to continuously check on our load. In verse 30 of Matthew 11, Jesus describes the load He wants to dispatch. “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” No need to be worried about the “chicken-coup” as to being overweight or not having the right equipment; for He doesn’t dispatch us unless we have on the full-armor-of-God in place. God’s Word makes it very clear that there is evil in the world today and we are in a battle. Revelation 12:12 says, “Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! HE is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.” For this reason, Paul urges us to “put on the full armor of God so that we can take our stand against the devil’s schemes.” Hauling the right load and delivering it to the right place is a partnership – trust God to direct your path.
- No mixing loads – the best way to not get onto the wrong path is to not mix loads. You would not put some items together – chemicals with food / cattle into a truck that is designed for frozen goods – the cattle would not like being cold while they are alive! “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:16-23).
- Reaching your final Destination – all of us like to get home to family / friends and other love ones. When Jesus went to heaven after enduring the Cross, He stated that He would return for us – for there we will be with Him for eternality. This is not our home, but just a terminal that we are passing through. Truckers operate out of distribution points (terminals) where materials and goods are off-loaded and loaded. They are transportation hubs that serve to exchange materials and not our final destination. Heave is! There may be bumps along the way – truck breakdowns / flat-tires / tickets / etc., but they all are just items that occur on our pathway home. Believe and trust that the pathway is a journey and in such needs to be traveled to get to where we are heading. Journeys take time and effort; not like Star Trek – beam be up Scottie! No that it will take time / energy / self-sacrifice of every kind to get us home. Also know that time is a concern – we maybe in God’s Weighing Room for a period of time. That doesn’t mean He has forgotten us, but just training us to take on the next assignment. Be patience, God knows what He is doing and will always have your back. Stay the course.
God waits patiently for us, wants us to change direction, and doesn't want us to get to the point of a dead end to ask.
The question is - how long are you willing to travel down the wrong road before altering your direction.
"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and ea with that person, and they with me."
(Revelation 3:20)
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