There is an old saying I heard as a young man, used sort of tongue in cheek, by Connecticut Yankees and by people all the way up to Maine. When you asked them for directions, their answer would be, “You can’t get there from here.” Well of course you could, but they were just being cantankerous in a friendly New England way. That statement is sadly becoming a matter of fact today.
I have found that even some navigation devices in cars are not updated. If you punch in directions, it will bring you close to your desired destination, but it will still be off. Some phones do the same thing. I was asking Siri for directions recently and was given enough info to be close to where I wanted to go, and right at the end I could see the location I had inquired about. All I needed to do was take a right hand turn. But Siri said to go left. At one time the location I was looking for was to the left, but directions in my phone were not up to date. No matter what direction you receive, it is incumbent on us to make sure the directions we receive are correct.
We are told in Jeremiah 6:16 to ask where the good way is, the good path, and to walk in it. There you’ll find rest for your souls. But those hearing the word said they would not walk in it. This is similar to where we are today. We hear directions from every imaginable source. Friends, TV pundits, newspaper editorials, politicians, as well as church leaders. Depending on their political or religious leaning, you can end up receiving so many opposite opinions in a matter of minutes. Which way do you turn? Luke 1 speaks of the Dayspring from on high who will guide our feet into the way of peace. But anyone with even a modicum of understanding has to realize that peace is a rare commodity in this building chaos. It’s not supposed to be that way though. Jesus told us to not let our hearts be troubled. Yes, we would hear rumors of wars and conflicts increasing at alarming rates. People would not listen and follow wrong teachings. The world would be battered by storms and earthquakes. But we are supposed to put our trust in Him. The tendency by many is to trust in that which brings immediate relief and offers an easy solution. Another troubling tendency is to follow those who have some truth but are still far from the path He set for us.
People look for shortcuts. Proverbs 16:25 says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” How far do you go down a wrong road before you realize that it is the wrong one? Or before you realize that you’ve followed someone with solutions that feed a part of you where anger, resentment, hate and so many vile things are buried. Soon you are walking that path and starting to sound just like those, who at one time, you would have turned away from. If you say you are in Christ, then you know the path He chose for all of us. You are aware that His sheep hear His voice and the voice of another they will not follow. If even 10 or 20 years ago you would have been horrified and disgusted by what you hear coming from so many leaders, both political and religious, what caused you to start listening to them? When something is wrong with us physically we tend to go to a Dr. And most are wise enough to choose a good Dr. But too often, when we are spiritually afflicted, rather than drink from the wells of salvation, we tend to be drawn to muddied and polluted waters that will only make us sicker.
Troubling things we are constantly bombarded by are not going to let up. They will intensify. Our part is to press in closer to Him. When things become unsteady, we are to hold on to the Rock. The problem only gets worse when we tend to double down. Not admit we took a wrong turn. Listened to directions that did not line up with scripture. And to those religious leaders who cannot disconnect from faulty and misleading navigation systems, they must realize they’re causing others to fall in a ditch they might not exit from. All of us must realize we have a road set before us that leads to eternal promises. But if we continually listen to the dissension and hate filling the air and allow it to take up residence in us, then we must realize we cannot get to that path He has for us from here. The Passion translation of Proverbs 4:26 says, “Watch where you’re going. Stick to the path of truth, and the road will be safe and smooth before you.” If we give attention to all His instructions and pay attention to His directions, and if you fill your thoughts with His words, then they will penetrate to the depths of your spirit. Then you will be able to get there from here. Jesus promised that He would leave His peace with us. Not a worldly peace, but His peace. And He also promised that He would leave us with the Comforter who will lead us into all truth. Ask Him for directions. Blessings.
Stand My Watch 