Yesterday I was driving someplace I hadn’t been for a while, and (as usual) was in a hurry. Since I wanted to get there in the fastest way possible I pulled up a navigation app on my phone and plotted in my course. In a few seconds, I had a turn by turn description telling me how to get to my destination. Occasionally I would look at my phone and make sure I was on the best route to get where I wanted to go.
Like the rest of you, there have been times when I’ve missed my turn. Maybe I was thinking about something else, listening to some music, or telling a story, but for whatever reason I wasn’t paying attention to the directions I was getting. Despite hearing the warning that we need to turn, we carry on in the same direction.
Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Under the direction of the Holy Spirit, God uses His word to keep us on the right path. When we start to stray, He graciously guides us. Just like a navigation application “recalculates” our path, God sends us fresh directions to get to our desired destination.
2 Peter 1:5-15 is one of those “direction changing” kinds of Bible passages. Not only is there clear guidance as to WHERE God wants us to be, He also tells us HOW to get there. Some of us may need to do some serious “recalculating” of our current trajectory. And the fact is that the longer you’ve been going in the wrong direction, the harder it is to get back on track.
So, get ready to turn off “cruise control” and take the wheel of your life on Sunday. Prayerfully read over these instructions to God’s people. Listen to the warnings of being “asleep at the wheel” and look for the blessed promises of arrival at our eternal destination!
Blessings!
Kurt