Teach me Your way, O Lord, and lead me in a smooth path.
Psalm 27:1
Have you ever taken an unfamiliar road and it led to trouble. I took an unfamiliar road sometime ago, following my GPS. I confessed - “it should know where I need to go”, so I leaned on it totally. I tried to navigate through unfamiliar city streets, listening to my device, all the while not paying attention to an upcoming stop sign. I proceeded through, not stopping, totally distracted! Almost at once, I was stopped by blue and red lights flashing, truly it was an embarrassing moment as I sunk down in my seat when the officer gave me a ticket. He reminded me I should have stopped. Unfamiliar or uncharted roads can lead us to the wrong destination the wrong experience, or the wrong direction!
But in life we often have to walk down unfamiliar paths – paths that may feel threatening. So how do we do that without making costly mistakes? We take Someone along who knows the way, and we say, “Teach me Your way, O Lord and lead me in a smooth path.” Does your path today seem unfamiliar? Ask your Father to travel the road with you.
Paul writes to Timothy (2 Tim 3:1) stating “the last days will be perilous”, extreme times of stress. I think that could be said of what many in our world are experiencing today. We are embarking on a very unfamiliar road in these times and need the Lord to lead us every day. Jesus made reference in Matthew 24 about Last Day events including wars, plagues, and persecution. He then adds a little emphasis in verse 8 “this is the beginning of sorrows.” It is very clear that as we approach those days, it won’t be business as usual, God is reaching the hearts of mankind that it is “vital” that we get understanding that we get wisdom to change our thinking, our values and most importantly, to allow His Word to transform us so that we permit His hand to direct our lives. There is a destiny to arrive at. Let’s be a little more thankful, we serve a God of enormous mercy, so we need to be grateful that Holy Spirit is in our corner and always present to bring clarity from God’s Word.
I’m sure everyone likes a little sunshine in each day, and maybe add a little laughter to that. But the reality is that there are some pebbles on the road of life, things that can trip us up and test our devotion to God, family and community. We experience days of seeming darkness, especially in our present season, as well as days of loneliness caused by isolation. Realize, God is not your enemy, He is not intentionally trying to discourage you, nor abandon you, but teaching us to hold tight to what we have learned from His Word. We can stand on past revelations of God’s loving relationship with us, but also He prepares us to know that Truth will triumph in the coming days.
Zechariah 14:1-23 is a tremendous passage, it speaks of the “last days.” We have entered into a part of our journey as humans realizing no one has a detailed map as to what will happen, when it will take place or even how! There will be dark days that quite honestly will cause some to wonder. But God has preserved His Word for those who are diligent to seek out a matter, His earnest desire is that we study and discern His message in these difficult times. God is telling us to “Not be Shocked”, but to hold tight as we trust in His presence and guidance. Yes, we are facing some unfamiliar roads now, but watch out for the signs – to stop or proceed with caution, or go the speed limit, things we will have to navigate.
Discouragement dogged Israel in Zechariah’s time, they lost their enthusiasm as the foundation to the temple had been laid. However opposition prevented any further progress, life was hard, taxes were high. There was little evidence of the transformation that the prophets had anticipated after their return from exile. People concluded that their days were a “day of small things” (4:10). God must be absent, faithful obedience was useless so it made more sense to pursue the best life possible in the present day difficulties. Does that sound familiar, we are waiting for this pandemic to be over so we can at least carry on where we left off. Folks, this is a message for us today giving us courage and hope because we are in the “last Days”, and will never return to the familiar its impossible.
Zechariah reminded his hearers that God’s envoys were watching, and when the time is right God will re-order the Universe (Zechariah 1:8-11). Heed the word of the prophets, turn to God, and we will discover that God is turning to us. A time was prophesied when sin would be dealt with, the Branch would arrive and establish peace, harmony & prosperity. Jesus came, dealt with the sins of humanity and brought salvation, the Good Shepherd will take care of the flock, He will provide for all.
In closing, the Lord does not want us to focus on how bad things are or how worse they might get. Our focus must be on Him, because He is faithful, He never leaves nor abandons us. God is always moving on hearts by His Spirit, to rescue us, to draw us, preparing us for that Day when He remakes this world into the Paradise He originally created it to be. The last days are not really the end, but the beginning of our lives. That is something to be ready for. Are you ready for those days?
DB
“The Spirit within us will faithfully guide us”