G.P.S. Week 1- Where Are You?
In the first week of the G.P.S. series, we saw how that after Adam and Eve had sinned, when God came walking in the garden, Adam and Eve hid themselves. God called out, "Where are you?" Not because He did not know where they were (He's God! He knew!) but because He wanted Adam and Eve to know where they where. They needed to recognize where the were and that they had a problem. We learned a basis universal truth; "You cannot solve a problem in your life, until you KNOW that there is a problem in your life.
The way a GPS works is that when you program your destination into the device, it plans a route and from there on, the focus is not on the destination, it is where you are at that precise moment. It tracks and makes sure that you are on the right road, going the right direction. And if you get off that path, the GPS begins to alert you and plot your course to get you back on the path. If you have been in a car with a GPS that is turned on, and you get off the designated road, it begins to speak to you, telling you, that you have made a wrong turn and it speaks directions as to how to get back on the right path. That is how God works in our lives, speaking to us through the Word (both written and spoken), through the Holy Spirit, and through others, telling us, to get back going the right direction, you need to turn around, revise your course, change directions.
Now it is totally up to us if we want to heed the instruction and direction of the GPS. We can go our own way, and it will keep reminding us from time to time, which way to go. But the GPS cannot make you go the right way, any more than God will make you make the right decisions in your life. That is all up to you, which is why I quoted Dr. Seuss in saying:
(from "Oh, The Places You'll Go)
God gives us all the direction, instruction and leading we need to not only make it to our "destination" (Heaven) but to enjoy this life and live it to the full along the way. But we must make the choice whether to follow his lead, or to go our own way.
The way a GPS works is that when you program your destination into the device, it plans a route and from there on, the focus is not on the destination, it is where you are at that precise moment. It tracks and makes sure that you are on the right road, going the right direction. And if you get off that path, the GPS begins to alert you and plot your course to get you back on the path. If you have been in a car with a GPS that is turned on, and you get off the designated road, it begins to speak to you, telling you, that you have made a wrong turn and it speaks directions as to how to get back on the right path. That is how God works in our lives, speaking to us through the Word (both written and spoken), through the Holy Spirit, and through others, telling us, to get back going the right direction, you need to turn around, revise your course, change directions.
Now it is totally up to us if we want to heed the instruction and direction of the GPS. We can go our own way, and it will keep reminding us from time to time, which way to go. But the GPS cannot make you go the right way, any more than God will make you make the right decisions in your life. That is all up to you, which is why I quoted Dr. Seuss in saying:
"You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know.
(from "Oh, The Places You'll Go)
God gives us all the direction, instruction and leading we need to not only make it to our "destination" (Heaven) but to enjoy this life and live it to the full along the way. But we must make the choice whether to follow his lead, or to go our own way.