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Vacation time,
family reunions,
business trips and
just pleasure
excursions require
some planning and
preparation. Maps,
sunglasses,
suitcases and snacks
are packed. Kids are
in the back seat
with Gameboys,
dolls, books and
things to fuss about
with each other.
Wife
is in the passenger seat ready to do her job as backseat driver. Dad
climbs in and starts
up the engine; we’re
on our way.
Travel plans have
been made and routes
more or less
determined, so
we don’t lose our way and waste hours trying to get back on the right
route because we
ignored the maps and
road signs. An
impromptu side
trip can be enjoyable – until we realize we’re lost. It’s important that
we know where we are
going or we won’t
know when we get
there!
So it is with our
life-journey. God
has created a
beautiful world for
us to enjoy, and He
is not against our
having fun and
taking vacations. He
just wants us to pay
closer attention to
the road we are
traveling to His
house. As Pilgrim
discovered in
Pilgrim’s Progress,
there are many
detours and
hindrances on the
way to Father’s
house. There is a
stalking enemy
called Satan who
wants us to take a
side trip and go to
his house instead.
Have no fear: God
knows that and has
erected route signs
and warnings
in His Atlas. We call it the Bible. It shows where a bridge is out, a
detour or dead end
street. If we don’t
use God’s map, we
could very
well end up where we don’t want to go.
“A man’s heart plans
his way, But the
Lord directs his
steps” (Proverbs
16:9 NKJV).
Following plans made
by our heart is not
a safe way to go.
The heart can
deceive us; but
allowing God to
direct our steps is
safe and the
destination sure.
“The steps of a good
man are ordered by
the Lord, And He
delights in his way.
Though he fall, he
shall not be utterly
cast down; For the
Lord upholds him
with his hand”
(Psalm 37:23-24 NKJV).
Some people find it
hard to ask for
directions and feel
they can find the
way alone, ignore
God’s way and spend
their life trying to
save themselves.
It’s a futile
effort.
To avoid going in
the wrong direction,
going in circles or
in the opposite
direction away from
our intended
destination it’s
important to use an
authentic map with
the locations
accurately placed on
the right route.
If we find that our
map disagrees with
the routes and road
signs that means
either the signs
have been changed or
the map is
inaccurate.
God has an accurate,
exact road map and
His signs will guide
us all the way to
His house. He
doesn’t want anyone
to get lost on the
journey.
It is virtually
impossible to get
lost using His Atlas
and
observing His signs.
God is our travel
agent and our tour
guide, and He wants
us to have an
enjoyable trip. All
His signs are
correlated with His
Atlas, the Bible,
and will help us
make it safely home!
“Your word is a lamp
to my feet, And a
light to my path”
(Psalm 119:105 NKJV).
Like newer model
cars that
have daylight
burning headlights,
we need to have His
light on at all
times to direct our
paths. God’s Word is
our headlamps and
should
never to be turned off on this journey. They will help us see any road
hazards and enable
us to avoid them.
 
Jeremiah called for
Israel to “Stand in
the ways and see,
And ask for
the old paths, where
the good way is, And
walk in it…”
(Jeremiah 6:16 NKJV).
“Old” didn’t mean
outdated or useless,
but referred to its
dependability,
traveled by
countless saints
before us who have
already made it home
and are waiting for
us to arrive. It’s
the most scenic
route where we can
observe the Lily of
the Valley, the Rose
of Sharon, the
Balm of Gilead and we can view the bright and morning Star. This way
will have the
choicest restaurant
where we can dine
with the Master
Chef. You’ll see the
advertising--“O,
taste and see that
the Lord
is good.” On this
highway, there is a
geyser from which
Living Water
springs.
We must not forget
there is another
travel agent who
offers free tours.
Don’t believe him.
When you reach the
end of the road,
he’ll hand you a
bill that you’ll
spend all of
eternity paying off.
Oh, his tour will
look
good in the brochure
with promises that
make it appear very
much
like the one that
God prepared for us.
But in reality, he
has turned the road
signs to point you
in the wrong
direction, and you
will never find
your way home if you follow him. If he makes you an offer, turn it down.
If you have already
hired him, fire him!
Go back to God’s
Atlas;
follow the original itinerary all the way to the Pearly Gates.
If you will do that,
here is what you can
expect on this
journey.
Look, there on that
hill. Do you see a
cross?
Take a close
look—Are you
astonished at the
site? Yes, it really
is covered with all
your sins. All the
“hand writing of
ordinances against
you” are nailed
there (Colossians
2:14). Did you
notice that they are
all covered with
blood? No, though
you are guilty that
is not your blood;
it is the blood of
Jesus. He is the one
hanging there; it is
His life’s
blood that He shed
for all your sin.
Are you weeping?
That is good. You
need to be sorry for
your sins and for
breaking God’s laws.
It should break your
heart that Jesus had
to die for your sins
there on that cross.
You’re sorry that
you are responsible
for His death?
That’s the reaction
you should have.
Now that you see
your sins and admit
your guilt, now that
you are sorry that
you are responsible
for the death of
Jesus and you want
to make retribution,
take another look at
the cross. What do
you see? Look!
The cross is empty!
The sins are all
gone!
Where is Jesus? He
is gone from the
cross. Look again
and you will
locate his tomb. A
rich man provided a
burial place for
Jesus. Do you
want to visit His
tomb and mourn
because He died for
you? Come along. Now
look inside. That’s
right, bend down and
take a close look.
Do you see Him? No?
Look at the
brilliant light;
there are angels in
it. Ask
them about Jesus;
where have they
taken his body? You
just want to
pay tribute to One who expressed so much love for you when you
were not even paying
attention to Him.
“He is not here. He
has risen!” they
answer.
That’s right—He has
risen from the dead.
Not only has He
arisen, He is alive
forever! The good
news for you is that
your sins are gone
forever also! Gone!
Never to return.
Because He paid the
penalty on that
cross!
But where is Jesus?
He is not on the
cross; He is not in
the tomb;
where is He? Stay on
the road, consult
the atlas and watch
the road
signs. Look ahead—what do you see? It’s Him! He’s there in the pure Light
of His Glory,
beckoning you to
come to Him. He’s
been waiting
for you to find your
way. Did you notice
what He is wearing?
It’s His wedding
clothes.
It’s Jesus! He is
waiting for you, His
bride.
His Father has made
all things ready,
the feast is spread
for the
Marriage Supper of
the Lamb and you are
the honored guest—
the bride! The
wedding of the ages
is about to take
place.
The wedding is
concluded and you
have been invited to
enter into the
Joys of the Lord forever. All because you used God’s Atlas, consulted
His itinerary,
followed His signs
and obeyed His
traffic signals. You
accepted the free
gift He gave you on
the cross. It’s
called Salvation
by Grace. You chose Him as your tour guide and He brought
you safely
home.
Are you ready for
another trip? Let
stroll down the
streets of gold!
Alice's Legacy
Remembering Alice
The "Handkerchief" has been
anointed and prayed over by
several believers who care about
you and want to help you realize
your full potential in Christ
Jesus Our Lord.
~The
Ten Commandments~
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