"The Navigator's Plan"

"The Navigator's Plan"     

  

  

   Frances and I recently rerouted ourselves in traveling to a service we conduct on a weekly basis.  The new course is actually longer in distance by a half mile or so.  However, we cut the time it takes to make the trip by at least 10 minutes.  The Eisenhower Interstate System paves the pathway for our expedited excursion as we miss a great deal of traffic by the far more efficient course.

    "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!  For who hath known the mind of the Lord?  Or who hath been His counselor?" (Romans 11:33-34).

   Our Heavenly Father often reroutes the way of His trusting children in Christ, leading us along a course that may seem strange if we merely consider the mileage, as it were.  The map of our own understanding and perception tells us that a longer journey lies before us.  The way may seem convoluted and destined to add more time and difficulty to the journey.  However, we do well to remember that the Navigator of our lives far knows the best course on which to lead us to the destination He determined for us long before we even existed.  Born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ travel appointed pathways as we walk with Him, many of which seem strangely out of the way.  The Navigator does not always explain Himself or His reasoning as He directs our journeys.  "His way is perfect" declared the Psalmist, and we know such Truth to be true (Psalm 18:30).  His way is not always understandable, however, and it is not always comfortable.  We will one day comprehend how efficiently our Lord led us throughout our lifetime for His glory, our best interests, and the benefit of others.  Nevertheless, the map we presently perceive does not always seem to confirm the perfection of the Navigator's plan.

    Those who sneer that the life of faith involves escape from reality and difficulty have obviously never attempted to themselves make the journey.  Trusting the heart and hand of God leads to a peaceful heart, but also at times to a bewildered mind - "We are perplexed, but not in despair" confessed no less than the Apostle Paul (II Corinthians 4:8).  Remembering and affirming the perfection of the One who guides us must fortify our confidence when His course seems to lead us in a way that challenges our understanding.  As the saying goes, "When we cannot understand the hand of God, we trust His heart."  The Navigator leads us in the best way - His perfect way - even if His purpose seems to add distance and even difficulty we might think it best to avoid.

"He is the Rock, His work is perfect: for all His ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He.".

(Deuteronomy 32:4)

Weekly Memory Verse 

   Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

(John 5:24)