Let me start by saying, I love driving. I love seeing new places and new roads. Sometimes I want to know where I am going, sometimes I just want to drive and see where I end up. But there are different types of roads. Let's talk about two.
I went to central Illinois for the first time a few years ago. The first time looking out across the prairie and fields was amazing. The corn fields dancing in the breeze, the streams slowly drifting across the landscape cutting straight across fields and property lines. The sky went all the way from the east to the west. A full 180 degrees above and 360 degrees in every direction. The sun hit the house at 5:30am and didn't set until 9:30pm. While receiving directions I was taken outside. The gentleman points and says, "you see those light fixtures? They are six miles away. They are at the exit. If you go toward those lights the whole time, you will get there." Sure enough. I could see those lights almost the entire 6 miles. Got there with no problem.
I knew how fast the wind was blowing by looking at the wind mill 10 miles north of our house. The point is, on the prairie you can see a long ways away.
Now I live back in one of the most interesting places on the face of the earth, the Cumberland Plateau, it's a part of the Appalachian region. (And for you foreigners, that is pronounced App-uh-latch-un). The plateau is marked by steep hills, cut by streams constantly running between them and large rivers that flood. The roads here move with the bends and turns and elevation the streams and rivers contain. Houses are build on the sides of the mountains. If you have flat river bottom land, it's valuable. The sun might hits our house around 9:30am and set around 7:30pm, but my parents only get about 5 hours of sun in the winter. People don't usually live at the top of most mountains, because it just quickly drops off on both sides.
This type of terrain makes driving interesting. You move with the mountains and land. You cruise along with the rivers. You don't just drive across the ground, you and your car are a part of the road and the world around you. I love to take the long way here.
BUT, this means you have to be careful. You can't see what's up ahead. You don't know whats around the bend. Ice may be covering the road that hasn't melted on the North side of a holler. You don't know how long or steep the curve. You can't see most entrances onto the main roads. Driving requires a lot of caution and a lot of faith.
But isn't that how FAITH is described. Abraham didn't have all the details as he went west and could not see over the next hill. Joseph didn't know what would happen when being taken to Egypt. Joshua didn't know all of the places he would fight. Elijah could not see past the end of his cave. Mary and Joseph didn't have all the details of their family. But they went with God anyhow.
Sometimes it's tough though, isn't it? Trusting that God will lead me around the curve into something great and beautiful. To trust God enough to believe his vision placed before me, even though I can only see so far.
The vision God gives us takes on traits of both types of roads. He gives us a long vision and a bunch of short visions. We spend more time on the short vision road, though. God shows us a little bit at a time. We have to have faith to go to the curve. There might be a huge drop off on one side or it may open up to a beautiful valley or mountain top view. It's as if God is saying, "It's OK. Keep your head, take your time, we will travel together and we will get there." But also he says, "Roll the windows down, feel the curves, smell the air, listen to what's going on around you. I've made this journey for you."
Ask the Spirit to show you what to do, where to go. There are signs along the way, people to stop and ask (usually in your church), maps that tell what to expect (the Bible). If we are willing, God will set us straight. He has prepared good works for us do since the beginning of time.
It makes the drive even more enjoyable, to know God has laid out the road and is taking us along on it. He is pointing out the directions. Allowing us to enjoy what he has done.
Let God take you down the road. Slow down going into the curves, punching it coming out. Let's see where God will take us.
