GPS is a great device to have in your car. It makes life a lot more convenient and gives you a lot more confidence when heading out to parts unknown. I bought one for my oldest daughter last Christmas. She had used one the previous summer as she traveled for her college and fell in love with it.
Before then she carried an atlas in the car to get her from point "A" to point "B." And of course when all else failed she would call me from the road and ask me to Google maps her position and tell her where she should turn, exit, etc. I was her mapping system in an emergency even though I had no idea where she was half the time. Since the GPS, I rarely receive a call asking for directions. She doesn't need me. It's at her fingertips.
I've been doing a series on the Gospel of John in our Sunday morning services. There is so much to learn from the book of John. Sunday we started into chapter 8 which is the passage of the woman caught in the act of adultery and brought to Jesus to be stoned. This is the passage that Jesus tells the crowd, "You without sin, cast the first stone." It's also where Jesus said to the women, "Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more."
It's the annual Feast of the Tabernacles, the one where the Jewish people celebrated God's involvement in their lives through the wilderness wanders on their way to the promised land. As part of the celebration, they erected monstrous lamp stands in the court of women outside the entrance to the Temple and lit them as a reminder of the pillar of fire that led them on their journey.
Right after the scene with the adulterous woman, Jesus stands before these lamp stands and declares that He is the light of the world and that whoever follows Him will never walk in darkness. Over the next few verses, Jesus has an interaction with the religious leaders about the idea. They want to know why He said that and how it could be that He indeed was the light of the world.
Jesus tells us in this passage that He knows where He is going. The rest of us, well, we think we know but we really don't have all knowledge to make ALL the right calls in life. Sometimes we're just guessing. Jesus never guesses. He knows. He doesn't gamble. He knows. He doesn't just pick a direction. He knows.
In the Old Testament, whenever the pillar moved out in front of the camp, it was time to pick up and move. Whenever it stopped, it was time to stop. Wherever it went, that was the direction to go. Jesus is saying that He is that light for us. Since He knows where He is going, I can follow Him in confidence knowing that wherever Jesus leads is the right direction.
He knows where He is going because of His relationship to the Father. As I follow the path of Jesus, the more I begin to know about the Father and the closer I actually become to Christ. I'm listening more intensely. I'm paying more attention. I'm more attuned to His voice, His direction, His attributes, His character, His love. The more I follow Him. The more I find myself drawn to Him.
Following Jesus is like having a GPS for life. I never have to worry about getting lost. He'll guide me turn by turn. He gives me speed, direction, weather updates, traffic updates, and alternative routes when necessary. Of course, I can turn Him off at any time and go it alone. But before long, I'll need to turn Him on again. I can also ignore His direction. But He'll continue to give instruction on how to get back on the right path again.
God, it is so great to have you guiding my life. I don't know why I ever ignore your direction and take wrong turns. I don't why I ever turn you off. You always have the right path to take. Help me turn down the radio, the outside noise and focus on your leading throughout my day. Thanks for the confidence and clarity for my life.
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