It was about three Christmases ago and I was visiting my family in Brewster, New York, which is a suburban village about anhour’s drive to the Triborough area. On specific occasions or long journeys, my cousin’s husband would use the global positioning system (GPS)to map unfamiliar destinations.
As well as providing the route, the GPS would also provide alternate routes and timeframes for arrive at your chosen destination. What I found particularly interesting about GPS was that if you missed a turn/exit it would automatically start re-routing you immediately.
It had been a busy Christmas with not only family visiting my cousin, but also friends. On one of our trips to the airport to drop-off a friend, my cousin’s husband missed the first exit and immediately I noticed that the GPS started formulating a new route, advising him of his next steps if he wanted to arrive at the same destination in good time.
It took us a little while longer, maybe about fifteen minutes to get to the airport, but ultimately, we made it to the airport and in good time so no one missed their flight.
I thought about this helpful piece of technology and how important it was in thelives of the average traveller. Thinking about this, it made a correlation to God’s plan for our lives as Christians.
Many times God is directing us with his GPS – God Positioning System, and we,in our humanness, refuse to take the route he has mapped out for us for whatever reason. Quite possibly, we might have just missed it because we were not listening to him.
He might have wanted us to wait on an outcome, or to take action for a specific outcome, yet we do the total opposite and then ask the age-old question of ‘Where are you God?’.There are many plans in a man’s heart,Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand… (Proverbs Chapter 19, verse 21 NKJV).We just cannot serve God in our human nature because Human nature cripples Christian nature.
God’s positioning for you
Now having gone off course and wasted our own time in the process of ‘taking charge’ or just plain disobedience, the gracious God that he is, he re-routes us once we return repentant and are ready to listen to him.
Just like the car’s GPS, we are re-routed on another road on the same journey, as we cannot go back to thefirst route. Even so, we are still heading ultimately for the same destination. The hope is that we do not veer of course so long that we become lost, but even then, the good Shepheard, Jesus, will leave the ninety-nine and come to get us, the one. Moreover, returning home to him is a celebration.
Jesus explains“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbours, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons whoneed no repentance… (Saint Luke Chapter 15 verse 4 – 7).
Isn’t God just amazing and loving towards us? We knowFor the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting and his faithfulness to all generations (Psalm Chapter 100 verse 5).
We often read the stories of the Israelites and wonder how a people could be so stubborn, yet, we act no differently from them when we do not follow God’s will for us.
We have a grace today, through Jesus Christ, which they did not have access to, but veering off God’s path even though we can receive such grace can create grave repercussions that only he can restore us from. Unfortunately, not every sheep is found when it strays.
Yes, Jesus knows where the sheep is and he peruses us, but ultimately we must chose to return to his path. Just like the GPS, he will show us another route to achieve the same feat, but the next move is entirely up to us.
Free will should become our gift, never a prison. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me… (Revelation Chapter 3 verse 20).
Keep on-route
I understand how important it was for me to pay keen attention to God’s voice and word and ensure that I take the first/best selected route to avoid the self-inflicted wait and pain of going off course. What God has ordained for you will certainly be yours, and sometimes we could have received it earlier if we onlyjust followed his lead.
To keep on-route, consider the following things:
- Become best friends with his word by reading it every day, even if it is just one verse.Our Bible is an amazing resource for life.
- Get involved in church as being with the brethren and fellowshipping provides growth and accountability; and
- Lastly, spend quality quiet time with God, praying and listening for his response. We do not want to turn our time with him into a monologue and as such miss pertinent guidance.
Trust the GPS.
Kimberley Morgan from the West Indies is an International Affairs/Diplomacy Practioner who loves the Gospel of Jesus Christ and is grateful for God’s saving grace that has transformed her life. She is a worship leader and remains passionate about touching hearts through writing/blogging as she thrives to become a published author of women’s Christian fiction.
Kimberley Salmon from Jamaica West Indies is a praise and worship leader who remains passionate about touching hearts through singing and writing as she thrives to become a published author of Christian women’s fiction. She loves the Gospel of Jesus Christ and is grateful for God’s saving grace which continues to transform her life. As a senior Press Service International Columnist, she is elated that she can now share her journey with God with the world.