When you go on a journey, a car trip, and you drive for a long distance, what is the road often like? Is it completely straight? No, not at all. On the trip you will face bends in the road, to the right and to the left. There will be hills and valleys. You will go up hills and down hills. You will come to crossroads and need to decide which way to go. There may be obstacles on the road that would necessitate you having to get around it one way or another. As the road gets worn out, potholes develop on the road. You need to take rest stops along the way and if you get lost, you may have to make a U turn.
However, after many days the journey comes to an end and you are safe at home.
The Christian life is also a journey and Satan wants to make it difficult for us to remain on the correct roadway, “As men seek to come into harmony with God, they will find that the offense of the cross has not ceased. Principalities and powers and wicked spirits in high places are arrayed against all who yield obedience to the law of heaven. Therefore, so far from causing grief, persecution should bring joy to the disciples of Christ, for it is an evidence that they are following in the steps of their Master.” –Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, p. 29
Some people, when they come to Christ and are baptized, expect the road to be smooth for the rest of their lives. This will not happen. To be successful in this journey of life we need the constant guidance of the Holy Spirit to be our navigator. Although the roadway may be difficult at times, we must remain connected with Jesus at all times and have complete trust in Him, or we will be led onto the wrong road.
BENDS
No road is completely straight on this earth, and although we are walking on the strait and narrow way to heaven, the road may bend and make turns; sometimes we see roads to the right and to the left. We need to know when to turn and when not to turn. In our spiritual journey we need to listen to our Guide when He tells us, “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.” Isaiah 30:21
HILLS (Mountain top experiences)
Our car trip may take us over mountains, from where we can get a beautiful view of the valley below. The view can be breathtaking. The mountaintop experiences in the Christian life are special times when the Lord asks for heroic deeds (i.e. Elijah on Mount Carmel) or special seasons of time alone with God (i.e. Enoch). Or they can also be the special times of fellowship we experience at conference time.
When we are on the mountain top we often feel as though we are ready for anything. We wish that it could be like this always! This is not the Lord’s plan. We cannot stay on the mountaintop forever. At some point the road leads us down into the valley.
Those mountaintop moments are moments of insight, which we have to remember during those times when we are down in the valley. We have to learn to be as diligent on the grey days as we are on the sunny days. If we have Jesus abiding in our hearts then we can keep the truth burning in our hearts even on the dull and dreary days with the commonplace duties and people.
VALLEYS
The valley is not always a place of darkness. It may be a time when we are going through trials, but it is also may be a time when we are doing nothing special as it may seem–just normal every day duties. It is the time after a special communion with the Lord, alone or at a conference, when you return to your every-day life. You can have sunshine in your valley. It does not need to be filled with darkness and clouds. When we have sunshine in our hearts we will have peace in our valley.
The valley is not really a bad place to be. The mountaintop experience prepares us for life in the valley. It is our lifestyle in the valleys that shows how closely we are connected to Christ. True success is seen in those that are able to travel in the valleys of life, sometimes alone, with courage, strength and fortitude. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4
Often it is the case that those who perform heroic deeds and are having a mountain top experience, when they come back to the valley they get depressed. Where do we find Elijah after his experience on Mount Carmel? We see him fleeing for his life in the desert (1 Kings 19).
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58. Sometimes it may look as though there is little result from our work for the Lord, however, we must never give up. Our efforts will never be in vain for the Lord. We may not know until we are in heaven, the results from our work, so we must continue faithfully performing our duties now.
MOUNTAINS OUT OF MOLEHILLS
The road we travel may have small bumps that appear to us larger than they really are. Sometimes we fear the molehills on the way, making them appear as mountains in our mind. I am sure we have all been guilty of making mountains out of molehills in our life’s experience. Here is one way we do it. “We are to stand in the strength and power of Israel’s God. Shall we do it, brethren and sisters? Or shall we murmur and complain, looking at the obstacles in the way and making a mountain out of a molehill?” –Christ Triumphant, p. 121. Let us not murmur, but trust in God to clear the molehills.
TRAVELLING UP HILL
The road takes you up, not only mountains, but smaller hills; the minor duties in life. “The path of holiness is narrow, full of self-denial and continual sacrifice; and yet in this laborious, up-hill path is happiness, comfort, and hope. In the midst of conflicts, rebuffs, and trials, the most elevated consolation is enjoyed by those who walk in the path of obedience.” –The Review and Herald, April 15, 1880
We are not promised an easy road. “He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Matthew 24:13. It is a struggle–an uphill struggle–and we cannot give up. But be of good cheer, Christ has promised to be with you.
Here is how you can make your uphill travel even more difficult. “When you find your work hard, when you complain of difficulties and trials, when you say that you have no strength to withstand temptation, that you cannot overcome impatience, and that the Christian life is up-hill work, be sure that you are not bearing the yoke of Christ; you are bearing the yoke of another master. But for Christ’s sake, for the truth’s sake, I entreat you to repent and be converted. Do not dishonour the name of religion by an inconsistent course.” –The Signs of the Times, July 22, 1889
TRAVELLING DOWN HILL
While driving, there are times when the road leads you downhill. Going down hills is easy. It is simply drifting. However, in our Christian walk we must continue onward and upward. Although, at times we have gone downhill, hopefully we will cease to do so and continue upwards. “We can never be saved in indolence and inactivity. There is no such thing as a truly converted person living a helpless, useless life. It is not possible for us to drift into heaven. No sluggard can enter there.” –Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 280
OBSTACLES ON THE ROAD
When you are driving, there can be large obstacles on the road. With obstacles, there are several options:
Detour: A detour takes you around the obstacle. It will not be the shortest route, but it gets you around the obstacle. God sometimes has a reason for sending us on a detour. For example, Ancient Israel met an obstacle in their road on the way to Canaan. With the mighty Amalekite nation in the way, God made them take a detour to the south, across the Red Sea and into the wilderness. It was not exactly the way they originally thought they should go, but God knew better.
The route we have in mind in our Christian walk may not be exactly the way God wants us to go, whether it be a job, a place to live, a spouse, or a duty we want to perform. God may lead us in a way that we think is contrary to our human reasoning. God’s ways are sometimes mysterious to us, but we have to always remember that God is in control and we need to yield our will to His will.
Over: “They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall.” Joel 2:7. If the obstacle is large, we may have to leave our car behind and use a lot of effort to climb. It may be strenuous and tax every fibre of our muscles, but we can do it with the help of Christ. “For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.” Psalm 18:29. If it is not so high an obstacle, one can leap over the wall. Still, it takes effort without your car. We may have to leave all earthly “crutches” behind and go with God. “We are to do all that we can do on our part to fight the good fight of faith. We are to wrestle, to labour, to strive, to agonize to enter in at the strait gate. . . . We are to reach the highest standard, believing that God will help us in our efforts.” –Faith and Works, p. 49
Some will turn back when they see obstacles, while others will meet them with courage and seek the Lord for ways to overcome them. With every obstacle in life, God has made a way to overcome it, one way or another. We cannot give up.
POT HOLES
Many roads which are poorly maintained will have pot holes. The devil puts pot holes also in the way on our Christian journey. We need to be aware of them and watch for them so we don’t stumble. Just when we think we are going along fine, we may take our eyes off Christ and stumble as Peter did when he walked on the water. We must always keep our eyes on Christ. Again, Peter thought he was secure in his Christian walk, but on the night of the crucifixion, he stumbled. He denied Christ. Have you stumbled and denied Christ in your words, deeds or actions?
“‘If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.’ The path of obedience is the path of safety. ‘He that walketh uprightly walketh surely.’ Walk in the light, and ‘then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.’ Those who do not walk in the light will have a sickly, stunted religion.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3 p. 108–109 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8
“Y” IN THE ROAD
When we come to a crossroads, we must trust the sign post and our map to help us decide which road to take. Life is full of decisions. In Deuteronomy 28, Moses called the people to make a decision. If they served God they would be blessed; if they did not they would be cursed, but they could choose the road they wished to travel. It is the same today. We decide our eternal destiny.
“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15 “All are now deciding their eternal destiny.” –Maranatha, p.108
“The will is the governing power in the nature of man, the power of decision, or choice. Every human being possessed of reason has power to choose the right.” –Education, p. 289 [emphasis mine]. “God has given full directions regarding His law, so that none need be left in darkness, unless they choose darkness rather than light.” –The Review and Herald, December 20, 1898
U-TURN
If you have been travelling the wrong way, you may need to turn around – make a U turn – and travel back to the correct road. No one likes to be told that they are wrong. If you have a great idea and think this is the right thing to do, it is often difficult to accept the fact that you have been wrong. It takes a lot of humility to acknowledge a wrong doing. But we all have made our mistakes. The Lord does not leave us to continue travelling the wrong way. He appeals to us to “Return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.” Hosea 14:1
He does not reprimand us while bringing us back to the correct road, but rather He says, “I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for Mine anger is turned away from him.” Hosea 14:4. “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”Isaiah 55:7. What a wonderful God we serve.
“But none who have fallen need give up to despair. Aged men, once honoured of God, may have defiled their souls, sacrificing virtue on the altar of lust; but if they repent, forsake sin, and turn to God, there is still hope for them.”–Prophets and Kings, p. 84. God loves the sinner, but hates the sin.
Those that are humble and love the Lord, will listen to and heed the voice of correction. “They that dwell under His shadow shall return.” Hosea 14:7. “Some, I saw, would gladly return. Others will not let this message to the Laodicean church have its weight upon them. They will glide along, much after the same manner as before, and will be spewed out of the mouth of the Lord. Those only who zealously repent will have favour with God.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1 p. 144
“The Lord is full of compassion for His suffering ones. What sins are too great for His pardon? He is merciful, and as such is infinitely more ready and more pleased to pardon than to condemn. He is gracious, not looking for wrong in us; He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are but dust. In His boundless compassion and mercy He heals all our backslidings, loving us freely while we are yet sinners, withdrawing not His light, but shining on us for Christ’s sake.”–Selected Messages, vol. 2, p. 231
REST STOP
When we go on a long car ride it is important that we make a rest stop along the way. Although this may cause a bit of a delay, the rest is important. “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.” Psalm 27:14
“But though time is short, and there is a great work to be done, the Lord is not pleased to have us so prolong our seasons of activity that there will not be time for periods of rest, for the study of the Bible, and for communion with God.” –Lift Him Up, p. 263
Sometimes we have a forced rest stop if the car may break down and we have to wait for it to be repaired. If we do not make regular rest stops in our Christian life, God sometimes stops us in our tracks and tells us to stop and wait. For example, a person may face an unexpected illness and need to remain in bed and cease from labour for a time. Every trial we face in life is permitted by the Lord, for our salvation. We may not understand why things don’t go according to our way of thinking and timing, but we need to trust and wait.
“It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.” Lamentations 3:26
So do not be surprised by the way that the Lord is leading you. Just trust. No matter which way your journey through life leads, you need to take heart and trust that God is in control. Nothing happens by accident and each bend and hill in the road is placed there by God. We have to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and remain on the strait and narrow pathway. Only then will we be granted a crown of victory. I look forward to meeting each of you readers at the end of the journey. Amen.
Wendy Eaton