Day 2: God's GPS (God Guides us Through Scripture)
You can barely read a page in the Bible without encountering a situation where God is guiding someone. Noah was told to build a boat. Abraham was told to go to a land that God would show him. God gave Solomon specific instructions and measurements on how He wanted His temple to be built. Even Jesus sought guidance. Before choosing the disciples, Jesus spent the entire night in prayer. He constantly got away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life to get alone and gain guidance from His Father.
If Jesus needed guidance, then how much more do we need it? The older I get, the more confusing life gets. When I was a teenager, I had life all figured out. I knew everything there was to know.
One day, four people were flying in a small four-passenger plane. There was the pilot, a minister, and two teenagers, one of whom had just won an award for being the "Smartest Teenager in the World."
As they were flying along, the pilot turned to the three passengers and said, "Guys, I've got some bad news, and I've got some worse news. The plane's going down, and we are going to crash. The worse news is I only have three parachutes on board." This meant that someone was going to have to go down with the plane.
The pilot said, "I have a wife and three small children at home. I'm sorry, but I am going to have to take one of those parachutes." With that, he grabbed a parachute and jumped.The smartest teenager in the world was the next to speak. He said, "I'm the smartest teenager in the world. I might be the one who comes up with the cure for cancer or AIDS or solves the world's economic problems. Everyone is counting on me." And with that, he grabbed a parachute and jumped.
The minister then spoke up, "Son, you take the last parachute. I've made my peace with God. I'll go down with the plane. Now take the last parachute and go."
The other teenager said, "Relax, Reverend. The Smartest Teenager in the World just jumped out with my backpack."
I don't know about you, but I acted like I knew more than I actually knew when I was a teenager.
The good news I have for you today is God wants to guide you in your life if you want Him to. Remember Jeremiah 29:11. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
God knows us, understands us, and wants what is best for us, and His plans for us are great plans. Let's look today at how we can receive God's guidance for our individual life.
There are four primary ways God guides our life. We will go over the first way today.
Whenever I say that, people start to yawn. They want something more. "I want the clouds to part; I want a visit from an angel; I at least want to hear a voice from God. I need something more than this book." No, you don't. If an angel showed up and spoke to you or a voice came down from heaven to speak to you, it would freak you out. You know it, and I know it. What we need is a road map, an instructional book, and a life guide. That's what the Bible is all about.
Psalm 119:105 says, "Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path."All the guidance you need is in this book.
There is guidance in this book. Because of the Bible, many of life's decisions are really no-brainers. For example, if someone came up to me and said that God told them to sell their house, take all the money, and buy lottery tickets, I could say with absolute confidence that God didn't say that to them.
How do I know? God will never contradict himself. He won't say one thing in the Bible and tell you to do something that is contrary to His word. The Bible is clear about "get-rich-quick" schemes. The Bible says to stay away from them.
If you are a follower of Christ and you ask me, "should I marry someone who is not a follower of Christ?" I know the answer. No. 2 Corinthians 6:14 clearly says "No." Why? You have different loves, lifestyles, and loyalties. It won't work if you can't share the most important thing you have in this world with each other.
Can you see now why God tells you to read this book? The question is, how many of us really take this book seriously?
Psalm 119:1-3 says, "Happy are people of integrity, who follow the law of the Lord. Happy are those who obey His decrees and search for Him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in His paths."
John 16:13, "When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own but will tell you what He has heard. He will tell you about the future."
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