God's word in today's world

On course


Winds and currents easily push ships at sea off course. The captain must regularly change the steering to get back on course. Nowadays, ships are steered by computers that automatically adjust the course when winds and currents drive them off course.

The smallest degree of adjustment at the start of a journey can cause you to end up in another place than you originally intended. The longer the journey, the further you end up from your originally intended destination.

We’re also on a journey in our spiritual life. On this journey, there are also currents and winds that try hard to push us a little off course. Initially it’s nothing big. In the beginning the temptation looks quite attractive, almost harmless. In time, while the winds blow softly, we’re gradually pushed off course.

At the end of the road there are now winners. Or rather there is: One for evil and zero for God.

It is important that we constantly make sure that we’re on the right road. When you drive far and you start getting tired, your eyes get heavy. I was a bus driver and drove for kilometres every night. That’s when I realised that when your eyes closed once, you need to stop immediately, because you don’t get a second warning. There’s no in-between stage before you fall asleep.

Once I woke up from the noise of the tyres on the gravel next to the road …

We should not be lulled to sleep on our journey. We must be prepared. We must make sure that we’re on the right road all the time. The road God wants us to be on. 16Keep a firm grasp on both your character and your teaching. Don’t be diverted. Just keep at it. Both you and those who hear you will experience salvation.

It’s our responsibility to make sure that the winds and currents in the world do not lull us to sleep. We must make sure that attractive temptations do not cause us to make small adjustments to our itinerary. It may cause us to end up in the wrong place. That would be so bad!

When I think back on my days as a bus driver, I can’t help but wonder what catastrophic results there would have been if I had fallen asleep just before a turn in the road? I would not have reached the intended destination!

It was actually already too late when my eye lids drooped. I should have made a plan earlier. I should have gotten a big cup of coffee at the previous stop or I should have woken the stewardess to keep me company.

We must also make plans in our spiritual lives. We must regularly check out the road we are on. Is this where God wants me to be? Shouldn’t I make a few adjustments to get back on course?

Remain on course. Do a course adjustment every now and then so that you can be certain that you will reach the right destination one day …

Scripture

1 Timothy 4:6-16

Reflection

Where are you going?
Is it God’s road?
What adjustment do you have to make?

Prayer

Father, I want to get to You with everything in me. I want to keep my life on course with everything in me. Show me the way and help me to react obediently to your guidance. Amen.

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