“New River Gorge National Park.” My brother Roger was speaking into his cellphone, which was connected to his car’s display using Google Maps. (He’s a little more tech savvy than I am when it comes to voice to text. I’m still in the hunt-and-peck stage.)
Gloria (Roger’s name for his GPS) immediately came back with the directions. Roger hit “Start” and we were on our way. Or so we thought...
We were spending the night in West Virginia, and Lynne had found out about the nearby park. So, with our senior park passes in hand, we headed out to visit. I don’t remember what Gloria gave as the distance to the park, but it wasn’t far from the hotel.
About 10 minutes into the trip, we realized Gloria had stopped talking to us. That’s when we noticed the “signal lost” message on the dash display. It was showing our vehicle on the road properly but nothing else. A few minutes later, we passed a sign stating that we were entering the park. We drove for about another 10 minutes and passed another sign that said we were leaving the park. Long story short, we spent the afternoon trying to determine how we kept missing the entrance to the park.
The following morning, on a whim, we put “entrance to the park” in Google Maps, and it was many miles in the opposite direction. (It’s a very big park – over 70,000 acres!)
GPS technology has proven to be beneficial, and it will get you to your geographical destination most of the time. Life’s journey is a lot more complicated, and even Christians can find themselves floundering and lacking clear direction in life. God never intended for us to flounder, and He has made provision for direction in life through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
“When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come” (John 16:13, ESV). Those truths include the “directions” and “course changes” needed to navigate this earthly journey.
In Isaiah 30:21, we read this: “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.” The Holy Spirit has the ability to guide us, but we must submit to His leading.
How many times have I ignored GPS directions and tried to find my own way only to get hopelessly lost? We can ignore God and try to make our own way through life, but that is not a prescription for success.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). God has a road map for our lives, and the Holy Spirit is here to help us navigate. God created this universe, and there is no place His signal can’t reach.
If you are currently in the “lost signal” zone in your life’s journey and you want directions, listen for the “word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.” You will never be disappointed.
What say ye, Man of Valor?
Semper Fi!
