On Course!

Though I love technology -- especially when it works the way it is intended, otherwise it becomes a great source of frustration to me -- I’m not one to rush out and buy the latest gadgets. I like to wait until things catch on and the prices become more reasonable. This may leave me a step behind, but I’m still moving along with technological progress.

One of the gadgets growing in popularity is the GPS (global positioning system) unit that has become much easier to use than earlier models, as well as much cheaper to own. Being able to enter a specific address, have it lay out the route, and then provide prompting for every turn is marvelous. If a wrong turn is made and one gets off course the GPS advises the making of a “legal U-turn” whenever possible or if another route is taken the GPS will recalculate from there so the final destination can still be reached. My wife (who often refers to herself as getting lost simply going around the block) even used our GPS this past weekend to go visit her sister who had moved into a new place. She was delighted how it took her right to her sister’s door.

With our GPS, the thing that thrills me the most is the finals words it speaks. As a destination is being approached we hear, “Approaching destination on the right.” Then come the words that I love to hear: “YOU HAVE ARRIVED.” It tickles me every time I hear the GPS say that because those are words I’ve longed to hear! The truth is -- as far as my personal life goes -- I have not yet arrived!

“YOU HAVE ARRIVED.” There are some people in this life who may think they have. They have reached the level for which they had hoped. Perhaps these individuals believe they cannot become any more than they already have. Such sets one up for the development of complacency, stagnation, and ultimately digression.

“YOU HAVE ARRIVED.” Paul was an impressive servant of God. He was a man who knew God’s Word. He was a persistent preacher. He was a selfless servant. He was a faithful follower of the Will of God. However, he humbly acknowledged the journey was not complete.

In his letter to the church at Philippi, Paul stated…
“(12) NOT THAT I HAVE ALREADY OBTAINED THIS OR AM ALREADY PERFECT, but I PRESS ON to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. (13) Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and STRAINING FORWARD TO WHAT LIES AHEAD, (14) I PRESS ON TOWARD THE GOAL for the prize of THE UPWARD CALL of God in Christ Jesus.” ( Philippians 3:12-14 ESV)

Pressing on! Not yet arrived! A goal -- final destination -- still to be reached!

Our GPS unit has a feature where our home address is programmed in and so to get home all we have to do is touch the designated “home” icon and the GPS will plot the course from wherever we are. On life’s journey, let us keep the course marked for home. When our life gets off course we may need to make some U-turns. We may also need to have the route recalculated from where we are to get us back on course toward the Divine programmed destination. As we continue looking back to God’s Word, we can be redirected to the path He desires us to take that continues to move toward Him and the Heavenly destination He has in mind.

GPS units use something above us (satellites) to determine where we are and the direction we need to go. That is what we most need for life; direction from above! With the right tool (the Bible) and all the provision God has made through Christ, we can get to our Heavenly home. Keeping the course we can someday in reality be thrilled by the words, “YOU HAVE ARRIVED.” Truly it is the “destination on the right.”

Have a great day FOLLOWING THE FATHER’S PROMPTS TOWARD HOME!
Carl

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