In 1989, while
we were still in transition in Lima, the mission board gave us a Nissan,
double-cab pickup for our family, and pointed us south to the city of Arequipa.
They gave us general directions to the Pan American Highway and said, “Follow
the signs.” Lima was in chaos in those days. Thanks to terrorism, most lights
were out at the major intersections. You had to drive with two sets of eyes. As
hard as that was, that was the easy part. We knew at the other end of that
long, two-day drive, we had a home. Figuring out how to get to that home is
another story. Our truck was loaded to the top of the camper shell on our new
truck. And off we drove, headed to our new place of ministry.
On the
second day we made it to Arequipa. We had visited the city. We had visited the
house that would be our home. But we rode in taxis and we had only been from
downtown to the street we lived on. We were acquainted with the city and the
general way to our house; but we did not know it. It was only general
information for us. There was no such thing as a Garmin. No such thing as
access to GPS. No such thing as a cell phone. You just drove, stopped, and
asked. People pointed in a general direction and you drove, only to have to
stop and ask again. We got there finally. But someone had to show us the way.
Sometimes, in our rush to live life, we assume we will find our way. It's human nature for many of us, after all, to be independent and figure things out for ourselves. But there are some things you simply can't figure out for yourself. You need someone to show you the way. When it comes to eternal life, God has taken care of that.
First, God expects those who understand the way to tell others about the way. And why wouldn't we want to do that? Think about it. You know the way to the greatest place and the greatest person; why wouldn't you want to show others that way?
Second, God sent the Holy Spirit to show you (us) the way. It's not enough that I tell you. The Holy Spirit is the one who does the convincing and teaching about the way. He is even the one who makes you want to find the way. He is the one who illuminates your heart so that you can see the way. He is the "GPS" we didn't have when we went to Arequipa.
Third, if you want to be in that place of eternal rest and joy, and in the presence of the King of kings and Lord of lords, then God expects you to take the one way he has provided. The Lord may point out the way, but you have to choose to travel down that way.
By the way, if you are looking for eternal life, Jesus is the way. There is no other way.
Jesus is the Truth. He has answers some of you are looking for. Jesus is the life. You want to be satisfied? You will find the most satisfying life in Christ Jesus.
