Guidance

by Trevor Sands, Barrow-in-Furness | Category: Christian Problems In Today's World | Feb 1982

The Guide

The problem of the 1980's is not lack of guidance on the myriad problems of our generation. From the advertising slogans on the TV networks to the agony columns of the popular Press, from Government information handouts to horoscope features, there is no shortage of advice daily thrust upon us as to how our lives should be organized. The problem is, as I'm sure we're all aware, that these guides evade the real and fundamental problems, are frequently proved inaccurate and are sometimes contradictory.

If, however, instead of this plethora of advisors there were just one honest, reliable, up-to-date guide, who knew the country well - the safest paths, the deep crevasses, the hidden dangers how logical and important it would be to keep close to him all the time!

Before proceeding then, we must state three facts which are fundamental to our safe passage:

1.There is such a reliable Guide - the Holy Spirit.

2.He has both the ability and the desire to show men the one safe path. (The Bible says, "He will guide you into all the truth").

3.If I've trusted the Lord Jesus as Saviour I already have the Holy Spirit living within me1.

Following the Guide

Having established that I have the best Guide already with me, I then have to squarely face the question: "Am I willing to follow Him, without question, 100 percent of the time"? Or does "Where He may lead me I will go" just belong in my hymn book?

Along the path, the adversary has many short-cuts signposted: Get rich quick; Early promotion this way; This year have the car the neighbours have got. Although different in appearance, these tracks all lead to the same destination - carnal Christianity. Those who've realized their error have had a hard slog across country to regain the true path, but, alas, many have followed the byway to the end of their days.

To take the wrong path is easy only if I'm a long way from the Guide. If I talk so much I never listen to Him then straying away becomes a certainty.

The Path

When Israel arrived at the Red Sea there seemed to be two possibilities

to turn to the side or to go back. God's path led forwards, initially into a wilderness, but eventually to the good land2. When Paul had travelled through Galatia there appeared to be two paths - north to Bithynia or south into Asia, but God's way was westward to Macedonia and the eventual planting of European churches3. If the same guide is leading me although perhaps for much of the time the path may seem dull, on occasions the very ruggedness of the way may cause me to lose my nerve if I'm not marking the footsteps of my Guide, or if I look back for an instant.

I wonder how Abraham felt the day after Lot departed, as his vast flocks and herds grazed the sparse vegetation of the hill country. If he had looked back at the disappearing view of his more complacent nephew going to the verdant luxury of the Jordan plain surely his spirit would have faltered. But God's words to him were "Arise, walk", and he moved his tent ever forward, nearly always close to the guide4.

I don't know; I can't see

We come now to the practical difficulty which so often seems to face us. As we look for guidance on a particular problem it seems to evade us. We have already established from the Bible that the Holy Spirit is both willing and able to guide us. How then, if we sincerely want to know God's will and do it, can we see through the mist ahead? Here is a suggested seven-point plan for keeping on the King's Highway:

1. Don't sit down in the road. The adversary delights to see Christians idly waiting. A traveller who is not moving will never see a milestone. There are many things we ought to be doing for God and as we do our everyday witnessing the answer we seek may be given to us.

2. Check all possible routes by the guidebook. All true guidance agrees with the guidebook, the Holy Scriptures. This might seem so obvious as not to be worth stating. In practice many have stumbled at this point. If my supposed guidance leads me to take part in questionable activities or to the dereliction of God-given duties in the home or assembly then it is not of God.

3. Beware of mirages. True divine guidance does not fade in its impact after a period of waiting before the Lord. But, if the strength of a desire grows after earnest prayer concerning it, God may well be in it.

4. Ask advice from seasoned travellers. Talking matters over with experienced pilgrims can often help. Of course, this should never be used as a substitute for speaking to God. If I think I always know better than my older brother or sister then my pride is robbing me of help. I may be surprised how many times they've been at my particular crossroads.

5.Is your journey really necessary? An invitation to God to search my

heart will result, as with the Psalmist, in being led in the way everlasting.5 Maybe, in the quietness, God will show me that I wanted to travel in a particular direction for wrong motives. Although the type of service I may be seeking is right in itself, God will show me whether I desire it for His glory or to be congratulated by others on my ability in it.

6.Knowing the right time as well as the right way. The same province of Asia in which the Holy Spirit forbade the apostles to preach was, just a few years later, the scene of a great door and effectual being opened at Ephesus6. Because of His complete knowledge of all the circumstances, our Guide knows the right time for any work. If we rush on ahead our folly will soon become apparent.

7.Unusual signposts. In all the centuries covered by the Scripture narrative scores of men and women of all types made hundreds of recorded decisions in God's things. On only one occasion was a fleece used as a sign7. This was by a young, raw, newly-appointed leader with a stupendous battle ahead of him. How careful I must be not lightly to ask for such a thing in the comparatively small decisions of my life. Unlike Gideon, I have the full inspired Bible record to guide me. Herod is a warning to us. He was a man who desperately wanted to see a miracle for its own sake, not for its purpose. The Lord would not gratify his wish8. Regarding expedients such as opening the Bible at random, taking the text that first meets the eye and expecting a clear message from it can readily lead to distortion of the meaning of the words. Such methods really are not worthy of the dignity of the Guide and the road we travel.

Footnote

"He wakeneth morning by morning, He wakeneth mine ear to hear as they that are taught"9. In the mingling of many voices at the crossroads I will not recognize the Guide's tones, if morning by morning I haven't listened to them. If this daily experience is there, I'll also know instinctively what pleases Him, what hurts Him and which paths He chooses. This will save me from many a stumble.

And the God of all grace, who called you into eternal glory in Christ, after that ye have suffered a little while, shall Himself perfect, stablish, strengthen you10.

References

1 John 16:13, 14; 1 Corinthians 12:13.

2 Exodus 14

3 Acts 16:6-10

4 Genesis 13

5 Psalm 139:23, 24

6 Acts 16:6; Corinthians 16:8, 9

7 Judges 6:36-40.

8 Luke 23: 8, 9

9 Isaiah 50:4

10 1 Peter 5:10

Trevor Sands, Barrow-in-Furness | Feb 1982
Christian Problems In Today's World