Following JESUS on the Straight & Narrow Road
For as long as I can remember, I have known the way to drive HOME from Indiana. There has never been a time when I needed a GPS navigation system to help me find my way HOME (after the way HOME was revealed to me when I was a teenager). Nonetheless, just as close as the near-midnight hour of last night, I found myself headed down the wrong way, driving down an unfamiliar roadway, totally confused and wondering: “How in the world did I get here?” & “Wherever did I make a wrong turn?”
Now, I was the one at the wheel (and not my older sister), so it was my fault that we were headed a different, wrong way—one that we did not even recognize!
After crossing the bridge that overlays the Ohio River, connecting Indiana to Kentucky, I have known for as long as I can remember that I need to move to the narrow, single lane that heads toward Lexington. So, I drove across the river, went through the sharp left-hand curves on the Louisville side, noticed the crowds of people coming out from the brand-new soccer stadium adjacent to I-64, and then proceeded to head east, driving in the wide-open lanes—away from the narrow path that I always drove. WHY, we may ask, and to be honest, I just don’t exactly know why I drove the wrong way, totally missing the narrow lane that I should have driven.
Isn’t that just like our lives?
We know to walk one way, to go a single way, to follow the Lord closely, & then, without even thinking or really noticing—we go the wrong way—away from the way we should be going!
In the Bible, in the “Hall of Faith” we read—
“And without faith it is impossible to please Him,
(Hebrews 11: 6 NASB)
for the one who comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be the One who rewards those who seek Him.”
Let me first reveal that it had been a full day of driving and visiting and laughing. Maybe I should have allowed another one behind the wheel, maybe I was not paying enough attention, maybe I was distracted, and maybe I just allowed myself to get off track by following the crowd (of other drivers).
- Needless to say, we were NOT headed HOME in the direction or on the familiar road that WE KNEW BY HEART.
- We now needed to pause, pull out our GPS, look up our HOME address, allowing us to “get back on track,” back on the right road HOME.
How can that be?
We smile and ask: How can a person know the way HOME & then suddenly be LOST and headed in a whole new direction?
Can a person who knows the way HOME, who is headed HOME—suddenly be LOST & speeding down a wrong road—one that could still lead HOME but one that will require many more turns and twists and extra time, as well as “peace” of mind?
- Maybe that describes you and me—us.
- Maybe we are the ones who were headed in the right direction, but we choose to take side roads—HOME!
- Maybe we are the ones who were headed down the straight and narrow road, but through our bad decisions, we are now headed in the wrong direction—one of CONFUSION & STRUGGLING.
What does God’s Word say regarding a person being “homeward, heaven bound”? In the Gospel of John, we read the words of Jesus our Savior when He was speaking with two brothers: Philip and Andrew.
“But Jesus answered them by saying,”
(John 12: 23-26 NASB)
[His answer was in response to the group of Greeks who were seeking to see Jesus]
“The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
Truly, truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone;
but if it dies,
it bears much fruit.
The one who loves his life loses it, and
the one who hates his life in this world will keep it to eternal life.
If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me;
and where I am,
there My servant will be also;
if anyone serves Me,
the Father will honor him.”
Do we pray for opportunities?
Are we ever watchful?
- Can we say with assurance: “I am a person who is prayerfully thankful for daily opportunities to be on-mission for Christ Jesus?”
- Can we also say with full disclosure: “I am also a person who steps forward, STEPPING INTO THE OPPORTUNITIES TO WITNESS that the HOLY SPIRIT provides?”
- Are we living life as if we are driving “lost,” taking occasional detours on our way there (HOME)?
OR
- Are we living life, walking close beside Jesus along “life’s road” that heads HOME to our ETERNITY GOD HAS PROVIDED?
JESUS Said to His Disciples—
“Truly, truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”
(John 12: 24 NASB)
- May we—Walk by Faith!
- May we—Seek Jesus Daily!
- May we—Keep On the Straight & Narrow Way, Always Keeping Our Eyes Upon Jesus!
“Whatever It Takes” by Stephen Stanley is a beautiful melody that reminds us through song how We Must—Surrender Our Will & Make Life-Changes & Do “Whatever It Takes,”—To Walk By Faith With Jesus.
Grab your earbuds & really Listen.
I’m so glad I got. All missing messages today. I haven’t got to read them yet. Tomorrow’s another day . Love. Dear.