The Bible, Our Roadmap

Have you ever had a time in your life when you felt you were a step behind the rest of the world?

Have you had those days where you felt you couldn’t do anything right and nobody understands you?

Lately I have lost all confidence. I don’t trust my own decision making skills.

I have been feeling so very distant from God. That’s not to say I have been running from Him or that I have turned my back to Him. I just feel distant from Him. As if I had taken a wrong turn somewhere and gotten off course.

I have searched my heart and faced a couple things that God and I have cleaned up. However, I still feel unhappy in my life somehow.

Today I buried myself in Gods word. I found a quiet place and began to read the message that Jesus delivered to his apostles the night before the crucifixion. I wanted to fill myself with His last message. I attempted to imagine myself in that dimly lit upper room.

The evening began with Jesus becoming the servant and washing the feet of the apostles as they arrive.

They then listened as Jesus announces that the bread is like His body and the wine is His blood. That His body will be broken and His blood will be poured out for the remission of sin. I can imagine how the apostles were filled with confusion as Jesus spoke of the near future when He would leave for a time and then would return for a time before he returned to the Father. I read how one of them asked him to speak plainly to them. Then they listened intently as Jesus did speak plainly about his life ending very soon. Jesus shared just how important love is and how very much He loves them.

“There is no greater love then to lay down ones life for a friend.” He then told them how He had given them everthing they needed to live a victorious life.

However, He also warned them of the struggle that lay ahead.

Jesus shares how the world will hate those that love Him and his father. Jesus then gives them an anchor during troubled times when He says:

“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble but take heart I have overcome the world”. John, 16:33.

“Peace I leave with you my peace I give you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid.” John, 14:27

It was after I read this passage of scripture that I realized I had allowed fear to creep in and grip my heart. Fear was gradually choking out the peace that had lived within me. I had taken my eyes off of the blessings in my life and was focused on all of the anger and hatred surrounding me. I again took hold of the portion of the verse giving me hope: “Peace I leave with you my peace I give you……Do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid.” John, 14:27

So does this mean that God removed all of my struggles and I now understand everything going on in my life? If you read it carefully the passage reads: “Do not LET your heart be troubled…..” It is necessary that we fight off the troubled heart. So I ask God for wisdom to recognize when fear tries to overcome the peace He has given me. Life is not a walk in the park. However; I thank God that He left a road map for us. A roadmap that allows us to measure our steps and leads us through love and not through fear. The bible is that roadmap but we must read it. It really is the answer to a joyous life.

Remember to always ride the narrow road and stop in and see us again.

Larry