“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).
Introduction
In the days when we relied only on a road map we often got lost and at times even found ourselves going around in circles. We hoped to catch sight of a landmark, or if all else failed we would ask someone for directions, only to find we became more confused. Then along came satellite navigation systems and found it easier to be guided from above.
God has never left man to find his own way but gave him something from above that would guide him to Heaven. How sad it is that so many choose to follow the advice of other lost souls only to find they arrive at the wrong destination! “Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?” (Luke 6:39). The word of God is our spiritual satnav.
The direction
From the moment we are born we receive guidance and direction from other people. These people desired to show us the way to live and behave. They may have rushed us off to a priest to have water sprinkled on us which, as is believed by them, made us members of the church of Christ. Later in life we learned that much of the religious guidance, if there was any, was wrong and was leading us to a lost eternity. That is when God revealed His spiritual navigation system to us and light dawned on our dark pathway. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures” (James 1:17-18).
Unless God has done this we would have been careering to damnation along with our guides. We were in a hopeless situation, but Jesus Christ delivered us the moment we repented and turned to Him in faith. He gave us new direction in our lives and promised that the Holy Spirit would guide us all the way to His Kingdom. “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13) … “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Romans 8:14).
The sad fact is that even God’s own people have the tendency to go off on their own. The parables of the Lost Sheep and the Prodigal Son are given to show us the reality of this (Luke 15). We still hold on to that pride which wants to be the driver and so often think we know the best way for ourselves. “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12). Thankfully many choose to listen to God saying, “This is the way, walk ye in it” (Isaiah 30:21). Just as with the satnav, when we fail to follow its instructions, God gives us direction to set us back on the right road, but we have to admit that it was our own fault that we erred. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
The guidance
The Holy Bible is more than a book; it is God’s guidance for all who believe. There are many ways to get lost in this world but only one that leads to Heaven. Only the Scriptures reveal to us that the Lord Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross made the way for us come to God. “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). He is the Living Word of God in human form. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men … And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:1-4, 14).
We hold in our hands God’s instruction manual for life, but do we bother to acquaint ourselves with it? According to Psalm 119:105 it is impossible to get lost or fall by the wayside while we allow God’s word to shine on our pathway and guide our feet. “For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life” (Proverbs 6:23) … “Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble” (Proverbs 3:23). In it we find that God has a perfect way for us to travel on, though it might not be free of obstacles and trials of faith, but it does lead to the mansion Christ has built for us. “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way” (Psalm 37:23). Psalm 1 tells us how we are to follow our spiritual navigator, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.”
Conclusion
If we are truly and soundly saved then we will want to be guided from above rather than from the earth. How many spiritual problems could be avoided if we would but follow Christ the way Scripture demands! “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psalm 119:11) … “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). To all who are determined to listen and obey the Lord has promised, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye” (Psalm 32:8).
Earthly satnavs can go wrong and guide a traveller to the wrong place, but God’s spiritual navigation system can never be in error so will direct us in the ways of righteousness. “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil” (Proverbs 3:5-7).
Living Word Bible Church 