WALKING AND PRAYING MY WAY TO ISRAEL (14)

Several years ago we served as church planters in northern Illinois. Once I was ask to conduct the funeral of a still born baby. The family was Catholic, but we had become very good friends, and I said, of course, I would be willing to do the service.

The funeral was to be held in a very large Catholic cemetery in Chicago. I think the family had to get special permission from the Chicago Catholic Arch Dies es to allow a non-Catholic to lead a service there.

We met in a small, yet beautiful, building for the service. I was able to encourage the mother and the family that the child was in heaven with our heavenly father. The family appreciated the short, small, but appropriate service.

After we left the meeting place, a strange thing happened. We got lost in the cemetery. No, I’m not kidding. The cemetery was so large it had streets with street names. It was so huge I could not remember how to get out. As I recall, it was a rather eerie feeling to be lost in a cemetery. I am not sure, but some of the street signs must have included; Cadaver Lane, Skeleton Ave., Rigamortis Boulevard, and Grave Road. I think there must have been one road that had a sign, “Dead End.” But then it has been a while, and my mind does play tricks on me. Well we did find our way out after driving around a while. Or should I say driving in “squares” and “rectangles” since the streets were at right angles.

But, believe it or not, there is a By The Way application to all this. As believers, we are traveling through this life sometimes forgetting that death is all about us. Paul addressed the Christians at Ephesus as "once dead" people.

Here is Paul’s statement in Ephesus 2: 1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. (NIV)

As believers we know that we will get through this cemetery of life and death. When we were lost without Christ we resided in the cemetery. But there is always hope where Christ is concerned. We believe in a resurrection. Now, I am not speaking of that future resurrection every child of God is promised when we get a new body. I speak of a present resurrection. Jesus had an interesting exchange with Martha in John 11.

John 11:17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.
21"Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask."
23Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."
24Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."
25Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
27"Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world." (NIV)

Notice verse 25. Jesus said that He was (present tense) the resurrection. When a spiritually dead person is saved they experience a spiritual resurrection. And that should be our concern while we walk with the Lord to that heavenly city. We need to walk through life’s graveyards. If we only choose to live and walk among those who are already alive, we cannot fulfill our calling as believers. We have the good news that can bring life to those who are dead. Do not feel that we are lost in a graveyard, but we are working in a spiritual graveyard. The road we walk to heaven needs to go through as many cemeteries as possible.

In John 4 we have an interesting story about Jesus leading the disciples from Judea to Galilee. Notice in John 4:3…He (Jesus) left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. 4 Now he had to go through Samaria.

His having to go through Samaria was not a geographical necessity, but a spiritual necessity. Most Jews, in order to avoid the despised Samaritans, crossed over the Jordan and went north on the east side avoiding Samaria all together. Then they crossed back over the Jordan into Galilee. But Jesus said he had to go through Samaria. Why?: Because there was a cemetery full of dead folks, beginning with a woman at Jacobs well, and concluding with a sizable group from the city of Sychar. He had to bring life to some dead folks on his way to Galilee.

Are we bringing the story of life to the cemeteries of spiritual dead folks as we travel the road to our heavenly city?

THOT: WHEN YOU REALIZE YOU ARE LOST IN A CEMETERY JUST REMEMBER THE ONE WHO HAS POWER OVER DEATH AND LIFE

WALKING AND PRAYING MY WAY TO ISRAEL(13)

Many of us have been guilty of being critical of the so called “Health and Wealth” message that is being preached by some TV evangelists and others. But maybe we should not be so quick to condemn, instead do a little re-interpretation.

By The Way I have been asked, “are you a Methodist?” and I sometimes reply, “Of course, I believe in godly methods in the way we present our faith and organize our churches.

Some have said, "I am Jehovah’s Witness.” And I reply, “Yes, I am too. I try to witness for Jehovah every day. You know Jesus said that He was the 'I Am' before Abraham. He is Jehovah or as the Hebrew would put it, Yahweh.”

“Are you a Latter Day Saint?” was a question put to me. I immediately answered in the affirmative. “I believe we are living in the last days. And when Christ saved me He made me a saint (see 1 Corinthians)”

“Are you Pentecostal?” was the question. “Of course I am, I believe that the church was baptized with the power of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2, and when I was saved I became a part of that church, and now share in that same Pentecostal power. Acts 1:8 says, ‘and you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.’ I have received that Holy Spirit and the Power of God that comes with that experience.”

AND NOW I AM READY TO DECLARE THAT I BELIEVE AND PREACH A HEALTH AND WEALTH GOSPEL.

Now let me explain my position by using the following acrostic. We are dealing with God’s laws or principles of reaping and sowing. Our experience of reality depends upon practicing God’s principles for health and wealth. This works in the physical world as well as the spiritual world. God intends for His children to be healthy and wealthy.

3 John 2 Dear friend, I pray that you may prosper in every way and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. (HCSB)

H E A L T H


Humility … Humility is a necessary virtue if we are to learn to depend upon our Lord and not ourselves. Humility takes the spotlight off us and puts it on Christ. We need humility in order to be healthy spiritually and physically.

Excitement … It is a thrill to walk with God. One cannot be thrilled with His walk without showing it. Excitement starts from an inner certainty of our security in Christ and is revealed in our actions, reactions, and physical expressions. Excitement cannot live where discouragement and depression reign. Excitement promotes health.

Accountability … One cannot be autonomous, that is, having to answer to no one, and be healthy spiritually or physically. All the so called “self-help programs” list accountability as a necessary ingredient to success. We are ultimately accountable to God, but we also need to have accountability to a Christian brother or sister, and to a local church.

Love … Love is not lust. Love is self-giving, lust is all about getting. A person who feels unloved is truly an ill person. But to receive love we must give it away. God’s kind of love is “Agape.” It is a love that requires nothing in return. A person with this kind of love is truly healthy.

Trust … Lack of trust, which is fear and jealousy, can make us sick both physically and spiritually. Trust is faith put to action. We must trust our God, and learn to trust our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Hope … Lack of hope leads to worry and worry leads to all kinds of sickness: sickness of the mind, the body and our spiritual nature. Hope, as used in the Scripture, means to have such confidence in what God says about our future that it is as certain as though it had already happened. That leads to rest. And that kind of rest leads to spiritual and physical health.


W E A L T H

Wonder … Dr. Vance Havner preached a sermon entitled “Losing the Wonder of it All.” He says that there are many Christians that have lost the wonder, the glow, the euphoria of being a Christian. They have settled for a humdrum boring existence. A person like that is poor, regardless of his bank account or his other material possessions. A Believer who still has the wonder of his relationship to the Lord is rich indeed.

Experience … The Christian life is not just an exercise in intelligence or how much we know in our head. It is an experience. We are, as Dr. Blackaby puts it, to experience God. And this should be a daily experience and an adventure. A person who experiences God this way is wealthy beyond measure.

Acceptance … To be wealthy spiritually and physically we cannot simply choose those we want to help and those we want to ignore. In accepting others we are really giving ourselves away. It is the truly rich person who can give themselves away.

Leaving … A person who is truly wealthy knows how to leave a Godly legacy. We know that when we die we leave behind everything that is material. All those material things will rust, and rot away. But there are some things that we leave behind that will last. A legacy of a life well lived means your influence keeps multiplying. It is like a savings account that draws interest, except this is something intangible. Only a wealthy person can leave a legacy like that.

Teaching … I am reminded of a credit card commercial… many things have a dollar value, but other things are priceless. A wealthy man or woman may teach some things that have a dollar value. I have taught a college class for years that has to do with business leadership. It is gratifying to know that some of the things I have taught helped some of my students excel in the business world. It meant more money and that is fine. But more importantly I taught Christian values, and Biblical morals, and it is even more a joy to see positive spiritual changes in the lives of some of my students. That is priceless

Helping … I love to watch the celebrated film "It’s A Wonderful Life." Marie and I always watch it around Christmas time. At one point in the film George Bailey felt that he had been a failure. But when all the people George had helped came to his rescue after most of their money had been lost, he began to realize that he had not been a failure after all. In the last scene in the film a toast was given to George Bailey, "the richest man in town." Old man Potter may have had more cash, but it takes more than cash to make us rich. George had friends because he had been a friend. And as a friend he had helped hundreds of people. Look for the one who is always helping others, and there you will see someone who is truly rich.

THOT: GOD WANTS US TO BE HEALTHY AND WEALTHY BUT IT IS A HEALTH THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY ANNOUNCED IN THE DOCTORS OFFICE, AND IT IS NOT A WEALTH THAT CAN BE MEASURED BY MONEY OR EARTHLY POSSESSIONS.

WALKING AND PRAYING MY WAY TO ISRAEL

Many of us have been guilty of being critical of the so called “Health and Wealth” message that is being preached by some TV evangelists and others. But maybe we should not be so quick to condemn, but rather do a little re-interpretation.

By The Way I have been asked, “are you a Methodist” and I sometimes reply, “Of course, I believe in godly methods to the way we present our faith and organized our churches.

Some have said, I am Jehovah’s Witness.” And I reply, “Yes, I am too. I try to witness for Jehovah every day. You know Jesus said that He was the “I Am” before Abraham. He is Jehovah or as the Hebrew would put it, Yahweh.”

“Are you a Latter Day Saint?” was a question put to me. I immediately answered in the affirmative. “I believe we are living in the last days. When Christ saved me He made me a saint (see 1 Corinthians)”

“Are you Pentecostal?” was the question. “Of course I am, I believe that the church was baptized with the power of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2, and when I was saved I became a part of that church, and now share in that same Pentecostal power. Acts 1:8 says, ‘and you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.’ I have received that Holy Spirit and the Power of God that comes with that experience.”

AND NOW I AM READY TO DECLARE THAT I BELIEVE AND PREACH A HEALTH AND WEALTH GOSPEL.

Now let me explain my position by using the following acrostic. We are dealing with God’s laws or principles of reaping and sowing. Our experience of reality depends upon practicing God’s principles for health and wealth. This works in the physical world as well as the spiritual world. God intends for His children to be healthy and wealthy.

3 John 2 dear friend, I pray that you may prosper in every way and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. (HCSB)

Humility … Humility is a necessary virtue if we are to learn to depend upon our Lord and not ourselves. Humility takes the spotlight off us and puts it on Christ. We need humility in order to be healthy spiritually and physically.

Excitement … It is a thrill to walk with God. One cannot be thrilled with His walk without showing it. Excitement starts from an inner certainty of our security in Christ and is expressed in our actions, reactions, and physical expressions. Excitement cannot live where discouragement and depression reign. Excitement promotes health.

Accountability … One cannot be autonomous, that is, having to answer to no one and be healthy spiritually or physically. All the so called “self-help programs” list accountability as a necessary ingredient to success. We are ultimately accountable to God, but we also need to have accountability to a Christian brother or sister, and to a local church.

Love … Love is not lust. Love is self-giving, lust is all about getting. A person who feels unloved is truly an ill person. But to receive love we must give it away. God’s kind of love is “Agape.” It is a love that requires nothing in return. A person with this kind of love is truly healthy.

Trust … Lack of trust, which is fear and jealousy can make us sick both physically and spiritually. Trust is faith put to action. We must trust our God, and learn to trust our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Hope … Lack of hope leads to worry and worry leads to all kinds of sickness: sickness of the mind, the body and our spiritual nature. Hope in the Scripture means to have confidence in the future as God reveals it as if it had already happened. That leads to rest. And that kind of rest leads to spiritual and physical health.

Wonder … Dr. Vance Havner preached a sermon entitled “Losing the Wonder of it All.” He says that there are many Christians that have lost the Wonder, the glow, euphoria of being a Christian. They have settled for a humdrum boring existence. A person like that is poor, regardless of his bank account or his other material possessions. A Believer who still has the Wonder of his relationship to the Lord is rich indeed.

Experience … The Christian life is not just an exercise in intelligence or how much we know in our head. It is an experience. We are, as Dr. Blackaby puts it, to experience God. And this should be a daily experience and an adventure. A person who experiences God this way is wealthy beyond measure.

Acceptance … To be wealthy spiritually and physically we cannot simply choose those we want to help and those we want to ignore. In accepting others we are really giving ourselves away. It is the truly rich person who can give themselves away.

Leaving … A person who is truly wealthy knows how to leave a Godly legacy. We know that when we die we leave everything that is material behind. All those material things will rust, and rot away. But there are some things that we leave behind that will last. A legacy of a life well lived means your influence keeps multiplying. It is like a savings account that draws interest, except this is something intangible. Only a wealthy person can leave a legacy like that.

Teaching … I am reminded of a credit card commercial… many things have a dollar value, but other things are priceless. A wealthy man or woman may teach some things that have a dollar value. I have taught a college class for years that has to do with business leadership. It is gratifying to know that some of the things I have taught helped some of my students excel in the business world. It meant more money and that is fine. But more importantly I taught Christian values, and Biblical morals, and it is even more a joy to see positive spiritual changes in the lives of some of my students. That is priceless

Helping … I love to watch the celebrated film It’s A Wonderful Life. Marie and I always watch it around Christmas time. At one point in the film George Bailey felt that he had been a failure. But when all the people George had helped came to his rescue after most of their money had been lost, he began to realize that he had not been a failure after all. The last scene in the film a toast was given to George Bailey, the richest man in town. Old man Potter may have had more cash, but it takes more than cash to make us rich. George had friends because he had been a friend. And as a friend he had helped hundreds of people. Look for the one who is always helping others, and there you will see someone who is truly rich.

THOT: GOD WANTS US TO BE HEALTHY AND WEALTHY BUT IT IS A HEALTH THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY ANNOUNCED IN THE DOCTORS OFFICE, AND IT IS NOT A WEALTH THAT CAN NOT BE MEASURED BY MONEY OR EARTHLY POSSESSIONS.

THE DEVIL AND THE DUCK

I have been working on my WALKING AND PRAYING MY WAY TO ISRAEL blog, but I received the following story from one of my church members. Her name is Christine Huddleston. By the way her first book is coming out in a few months. I thought this was too good not to share. May it bless you as it did me

How many times have we thought that keeping a secret was the best way to stay out of trouble? Read this story about what happens to Johnny as he hides the truth of what he did from his Grandma.

There was a little boy named Johnny visiting his grandparents on their farm.
He was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods. He practiced in the woods; but he could never hit the target. Getting a little discouraged, he headed back for dinner. As he was walking back he saw Grandma’s pet duck. Just out of impulse, he let the slingshot fly, hit the duck square in the head and killed it. He was shocked and grieved! In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile; only to see his Sister watching! Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing.

After lunch the next day Grandma said, ‘Sally, let’s wash the dishes’ But Sally said, ‘Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen.’ Then she whispered to him, “remember the duck?’ So Johnny did the dishes. Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing and Grandma said, ‘I’m sorry but I need Sally to help make supper.’ Sally just smiled and said, ‘well that’s all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help? She whispered again, ‘Remember the duck?’ So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed to help.

After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally’s; he finally could not stand it any longer. He came to Grandma and confessed that he had killed the duck. Grandma knelt down, gave him a hug and said, ‘Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing, but because I love you, I forgave you. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you.’

Thought for the day and every day thereafter:

Whatever is in your past, whatever you have done… And the devil keeps throwing it up in your face (lying, cheating, debt, fear, bad habits, hatred, anger, bitterness, etc.)…whatever it is…You need to know that:

God was standing at the window and He saw the whole thing. He has seen your whole life… He wants you to know that He loves you and that you are forgiven. He’s just wondering how long you will let the devil make a slave of you. The great thing about God is that when you ask for forgiveness; He not only forgives you, but He forgets.

It is by God’s grace and mercy that we are saved. Go ahead and make the difference in someone’s life today. Share this with a friend and always remember:
God is at the window!

WALKING AND PRAYING MY WAY TO ISRAEL (12)

In my blogs I have often used physical realities to express the truth of spiritual realities.. But the fact is, with God there is no harsh dividing line between the physical and the spiritual. All that we are and all that we do intersects with the spiritual.

I remember attending a conference with Marie and several couples from Illinois at what was then a church in Florida where Dr. Peter Lord was pastoring. It was a wonderful retreat. I remember Bro. Lord asking us in one morning session how many spiritual things we had done that day. A few hands went up, and upon asking them the number of spiritual things they had done; some rather embarrassingly would say one, or maybe two, and at the most three. They were thinking about their morning devotional, or maybe a kind word they said to a friend or to their spouse.

Then Bro. Lord asked, “How many of you brushed you teeth this morning?” Every hand went up. Then he said, “Is brushing your teeth a non-spiritual activity?” He reminded us that the Scripture says that “whether we eat or drink or what ever we do we are to do it to the glory of God.” He indicated that some how we had gotten confused between a spiritual activity and a “religious” activity. “All we do is spiritual if it fits into God’s overall plan for our lives.” Dr. Lord emphasized.

By The Way I gave you all of this to get to my point. We have been talking about walking with God. But we seem to always make the emphasis a “spiritual walk.” Well, physical walking is spiritual, if that is what the Lord wants you to do. And beyond that, it reminds us of this body that God created. Just to analyze it gives glory to God. I have a paper written by a pastor friend of mine I was in seminary with and have helped in numerous revivals. I include his paper entitled The Human Machine, by Tim Adams because it emphases the power and wisdom of God in creating us. Our body is an example of the spiritual genius of God

THE HUMAN MACHINE

“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.”

The Human Machine is an 8-part miracle machine of creation:

• 200-212 I-Beams, Angle, U-Joint type material called bone, built to withstand several pounds of pressure.

• 14 types of mechanical motorized, electrically generated aids to ambulation in all directions.

• 1000’s of miles of expandable state of the art leak-resistant plumbing, half with dependable one-way valves, connected to a super pump in miniature model, built for 24 hour service, maintaining constant respiration, nourishment, disposal and cosmetic functions through circulation of 4 quarts of lubricant/cleaner a the rate of 70-80 BPM

• An Internal Waste Management System comprised of 1 self-emptying storage tank for liquid disposal and 27 feet of absorptive lining for the transport and expulsion of semisolid waste.

• A four-part equalized chemical balance injection system built for lifetime automatic revisions in the human model without need for recall to the factory.

• A microscopically integrated internal communication network connected to a central receiving and response station far outranking the complexities of any computerized modern metropolitan phone system.

• All neatly wrapped in two layers of he toughest, thermal protective regenerating covering called skin.

THE HUMAN MACHINE RETAIL PRICE: $$$ Priceless.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeding goodly pearls: Who, when he had found ONE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.” Matthew 13:45,46

THOT: WHEN GOD BREATHED INTO MAN’S NOSTRILS THE BREATH OF LIFE WE BECAME A SPIRITUAL BEING.

WALKING AND PRAYING MY WAY TO ISRAEL (11)

Every place I have visited overseas, the fact that I was a tourist must have stuck out like a sore thumb. I know this because the vendors who were selling crafts or souvenirs would always head my way trying to sell me something. Even if I was not visiting one of the many markets they would often stop me on the street. Most of all my trips abroad was for mission purposes, but lets be honest, I was also a tourist. I guess it is hard for an American traveling in third world countries to keep from looking like a tourists.

But By The Way, when it comes to spiritual truth and our journey through this life on our way to that Golden City, we are not tourist, we are pilgrims. Notice the Scriptural Basis of our Blog.

Hebrews 11: 8By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

9By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

10For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

11Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

12Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

13These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

14For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
15And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

16But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

Now let me point out some obvious differences between a tourist and a pilgrim.

1) A tourist is on a journey simply for the pleasure of it. His main goal is to have an interesting and enjoyable time. He is there (wherever there is)because it was his decision. On the other hand, a pilgrim is on his journey because He felt a call. His call was not from a tourist agent, but from the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Note: 8aBy faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance… Notice, the Scripture says “He was called.” As believers we have a call upon us. We are traveling this Gospel road because God called us to it.

2) Notice also that normally a tourist has an itinerary, where as a pilgrim does not. He travels each day by faith, knowing that each day he will receive fresh orders as to exactly where and how to travel. Note: 8bBy faith Abraham…obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. Abraham did not know in his flesh were he was going, but he was not traveling blind; he was traveling with spiritual eyes.

3) Notice that a tourist is always planning to go “home” after his vacation, but a pilgrim has no permanent home, except his spiritual one. Note: 9By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: Abraham simple sojourned here and there. His tabernacle was a temporary shelter. Today as believers we tabernacle in the temporary shelter of this human flesh. Our real home is in heaven, from which we look and long for our redeemer to come and take us to be with Him

4) Notice that a tourist is looking on the temporal, the earthly, but a pilgrim is always looking through eyes of faith that helps him see a place not constructed by man, but by God himself and is permanent. Notice: 10For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. As believers we know the “hear and now” is not all there is. There is a heavenly city to which we travel and our responsibility is to get as many as we can to go with us. We must never lose sight of that fact.

5) Notice, a tourist makes his journey by money, credit card, or by some earthly benefactor. A pilgrim lives by faith. 13These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. A Christian pilgrim lives by faith, sees the future by faith, clings to what he knows by faith, and is not ashamed to openly declare what he knows by faith. A tourist lives in the past once he returns home, showing his pictures, his souvenirs, and telling his travel stories. A Christian pilgrim lives in the present but his mind and heart is focused on the future; the high and spiritual goal of his journey.

6) Notice finally, a tourist my have visited many countries, and may have a favorite one, or he may have enjoyed them all the same, but purely for personal reasons. A Christian pilgrim sees a destination that cannot even be explained with human words. Abraham knew that there was no earthly place that would ultimately fulfill the longing in his heart. Notice: 16But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. There is a longing in the heart of every Christian pilgrim to get a glimpse of that city that has been prepared just for them. A pilgrim knows that city is his ultimate destination where all that he could ever need is supplied, and more than that He will realize his ultimate purpose, and that is to praise his Creator for endless ages.

THOT: ONE CAN NEVER BE SATISFIED WITH A HOUSE HERE WHEN HE HAS A DWELLING PLACE, SPECIAL MADE, JUST FOR HIM IN HEAVEN

WALKING AND PRAYING MY WAY TO ISRAEL (10)

I got out of the house today and ran around doing errands . The main roads were clear of snow and ice, but not all the side roads were, nor were all the parking lots. On those surfaces I could not always see where the center line was, or when parking could not always tell if I was between the lines. But I was doing the driving, and doing my best. There were some whose cars were in ditches or parked in odd positions. Their best was not quite good enough. But what are you to do when you travel territory that is unfamiliar, and you are the one behind the wheel? …Maybe nothing when it comes to traveling the streets and roads around town.

But By The Way if we are talking about traveling the street, the road, that leads to that Golden City, the New Jerusalem, we can do something. In fact we must do something. In John we find this exchange between Jesus and Thomas.

John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

When Marie and I moved to Kentucky in the mid-80s to pastor in Manchester, I soon discovered that there was very little flat ground and no straight roads. Every road had several forks and I must say I found myself lost many times just trying to find the residence of a church member. So, one day I ask my pastor friend, Roger Williams, who was from that area, to take me on a tour and show me how to get from place to place. I did not get lost that day, I never felt nervous or anxious about where we were even though it was often unfamiliar territory to me. The reason was simple. Some one who had passed that way before was under the steering wheel. Roger Williams was "my way."

Jesus is our Way. In fact He is the only way. And he must be the one doing the driving or leading. If he is our way, we can rest in Him and not be anxious or nervous, because He has been that way before.

THOT: IF JESUS IS YOUR CO-PILOT YOU BETTER SWITCH SEATS