Walk This Way

Walk This Way
August 15, 2011
Isaiah 30:21 "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.'"


Sometimes, it seems finding direction in life is a never-ending quest. We long for the definitive answer as to what we should do with our lives, permanently. It would be so much easier if we all had a concrete answer to that age-old question, "What should I be when I grow up?" This question is asked by people of every age, even the seniors among us. A map with a final destination would be ideal, that way we could see the clear path to follow. We would know what we were supposed to be doing at EVERY stage in life. There would be no questions; the way would be crystal clear. We could then relax and know what was up ahead, even the speed bumps. But for some reason, the Lord does not work this way in our lives. I have spoken with many elderly people over the years and they advise there is no finality on knowing what the next step should be. Rather, life is like a treasure-less box of random items. Let me explain.

We've all been given a treasure box filled with items, but for some reason we don't see or understand the value of the items. In your box you'll find random things; they might include: a piece of wood, a triangle, two small coins, some fish food, an old key, a pack of batteries, four sets of shoes that don't fit, etc. We open the box and think we are supposed to make sense of it all, somehow put it all together to build one sculpture. This final sculpture, we think, is what we are supposed to be in life or what we are to become, the end result of our life's work. Not so. The Lord doesn't give us those items to build ourselves up, rather to be used for Him. The items in the box are the talents and situations in life we all have been given. They are not meant to be balled together for one final presentation, but rather a lifetime of experiences in serving the Lord.

When you begin your journey with the Lord, your life becomes a path of glorifying Him every step of the way. The items in your box are to be used for His purposes. You will not understand the items until the exact moment they are needed. You'll come up against a random locked door and realize you've been given an old key to open it. The lights will be out and there will be a flashlight needing batteries; you'll have them on hand at the right moment. A stranger will need two small coins; you'll have those, too. All for the glory of the Lord. Your job is not to figure out what the items will be needed for; your job is to simply follow the Lord, wherever He leads.

The Bible says there will be a voice inside of you that says, "This is the way, walk in it." This is the voice of the Lord; it will not show you a map or tell you what you should become in the end. The voice will lead you to the next step only. You might feel ill-equipped for the next step, but don't worry, you'll have a treasure box filled with the right talents to be pulled out when the Lord intends for you to need them. The Lord will give you the right things at the right time for your journey; your job is to simply follow that voice. Don't try to make sense of it, thinking it is a final destination. And those items in your box, they are not really yours. So, if you want some permanence in your life or a concrete answer, know that the only thing final and concrete is the Lord. Everything else is up for His leading. Walk this way. Listen closely; He's directing your steps even now.

Don't take my word for it; look it up: Psalm 37:23, Psalm 119:104-106, Psalm 139:16, Proverbs 28:6, Jer 6:16, Hosea 14:9, Matt 6:34, John 16:13, 1 Cor 12, 1 Cor 14:1 & 12, Heb 2:4, James 4:13