|
Recently, Pastor Perry did a whole sermon series called Navigator. He used the illustration of a car's navigation system, giving you directions while driving, helping you to get to your destination. Well, anyone that knows me very well probably is aware of my personal struggle with directions. It seems that if I have not driven somewhere at least 42 times, I can't tell you how to get there or drive there myself. My wife, Kelly, does not share this problem. If she went somewhere as a toddler, she can still tell you how to get there and drive there if needed... even if she hasn't been there for a long period of time. Yes, this is partially why you see Kelly driving most of the time instead of me. Our family is safer this way!
Right now, I am currently in Atlanta with our church pastoral staff at a conference. These guys regularly harass me about my directional handicap. However, the tides have turned on this trip. When we needed to get from Indiana to Atlanta... who navigated? I did. When we needed to find the conference from the hotel... who got us there? I did. I have been the navigator! This is the first time in my life I have had such an experience... where people actually needed my help and trusted my input on how to get from point A to point B. Now, is this because I actually know where to go? Did I suddenly acquire a sense of direction? No way! It is simply because I hold the tool... I'm the one with an iPhone that has GPS and Google Maps built in (why do you think I got an iPhone?). Of course, anyone can sit at the computer and go to one of many sites and crank out directions to anywhere you need to go. However, having that same power in the palm of your hand... tracking your location and movement in real-time... this is something that I alone was able to provide on this trip. So, who is laughing now? 
While having the iPhone has definitely helped us tremendously to get where we needed to go, and even though I'm just having a little fun with it here, there is a point to my rant about it. We all need navigation. We have directions for just about everything in life. Anything you purchase at the store comes with directions on how to use a product... how to assemble it... even Kelly's bottle of coffee creamer that I buy her has instructions on the safety seal informing you that you need to remove it before use. I'm glad that was there... never would've figured that one out!
Seriously, we lean on many types of directions in everyday situations. Unfortunately, many people ignore directions for what matters most... the way we live. We have been provided directions in God's Word. It is not a rule book, but it is God speaking to us... telling us which way to go, how to live, how to speak, how to be a good spouse, how to lead your ministry, etc. It's all right there in black and white. Why do we so easily forsake this invaluable tool? Some of us struggle with directions more than others (which I know from personal experience), but ALL of us are definitely better off with a good set of detailed instructions. While an iPhone may come in handy in some situations, we all need to lean on God's Word for daily directions. Let Him be your navigator!
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Psalms 119:105 (NKJV)
|
perry meade
