Do You Know the Way?
I was frantic. After an appointment on the north side, I was lost. Proud to have made it there in one piece, I got strangely disoriented on the drive home. We were new to Indy and I had yet to conquer I465, the circular highway that looped the city. It was bad enough I struggled getting TO my destination. Now I couldn’t find my way BACK. It seem logical to head south, in the opposite direction I came. I never realized I should have gone west. What should have been a relatively short journey back home turned into a harried adventure around the entire city of Indianapolis. Just because I didn’t know the right way to go.
I admit I’m directionally challenged. I even get confused exiting a store at the mall. Stopping in the doorway to consider which way I should turn so as not to embarrass myself! I come by this weakness naturally. It was a trait my father possessed and evidently passed down to me. I’ll never forget the night he picked me up at the train station. My parents had moved to a home in the suburbs and Dad couldn’t get us back home. We drove in circles for an hour and our new home was only ten minutes away. And I was no help! Humorous story but true! So what do you do when you can’t find your way? In this day of hand-held technology, GPS can be our best friend. But what if you can’t find your way spiritually? Only the Bible provides the answer we need.
Scripture Reading:
John 14:1-6
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.” “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
Psalm 16:11
You have made known to me the path of life; you fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Matthew 7:13-14
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Psalm 86:11
Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth.
Questions to Consider:
1. How did Jesus respond when Thomas said he didn’t know the way?
2. What do the three parts of His I AM statement have in common?
3. What does the Lord make known to us? Have you discovered the joy of His presence?
4. How are the two roads described in Matthew and where does each one lead? Why do you think the road to life is narrow?
5. What is the prayer of the psalmist? How can we be sure we are walking in truth?
Summary:
Some argue that there are many ways to God. I believe the Bible tells us otherwise. Jesus is the only way to the Father. Thank God He made the way available to us (and published it in His Word). When we follow Him, we’ll find truth and we’ll find life. Don’t pursue other avenues or turn the wrong way. Listen for His voice and you’ll hear Him whisper in your ear, “This is THE WAY, walk in it.”
JESUS told Thomas that HE was the way – the truth – and the life and no man cometh unto the FATHER but by ME – I believe these words are really easy to understand – but yet some people choose another way to get lost. The three parts of HIS statement are I am the WAY – I am the TRUTH – I am the LIFE. These are very easy to understand – but sometimes our lives get away from these words. I have enjoyed the JOY of HIS presence for many years in my life and living for the LORD – HE is always with me and that is the way I want to live my life down here on this earth – just as close to the LORD as I can get in my life. I want to have the fullness of joy and the pleasures for evermore. The two roads in this life one is strait gate for it is wide and broad is the way that leads to destruction and we find that many people are traveling down that road today. I want to be entering into the strait gate which is the narrow way and it leads to eternal life. We really should watch which way we are heading in our lives today. I want to walk with the LORD at all times. The prayer of the psalmist it to teach me the way – LORD and we will walk in thy truth – Unite our hearts to fear they name. You are so right – Karen – there is only one way that leads to a life with JESUS and getting to the FATHER. I love the last sentence of your writing “Listen for HIS voice and you will hear HIM whisper in your ear, “This is the WAY – WALK IN IT.” That is so wonderful. Thanks so much – Karen – for another wonderful lesson – I have been lost while out running errands in my life and it is a very frightening feeling. I am so glad GOD is always with us – through HIS WORD – through HIS WHISPERS in our ears – I love serving the LORD with all of my heart. HE always sends us an ANGEL to help us out – JUST THING ON THESE THINGS.