Direction Indicates Destination

When I leave my home I travel a little over three miles before coming to a “T” intersection.  I have a choice then of going north or south; that is my only choice.  If I turn north, you could say I’m going toward the city of Boaz or Albertville but if I turn south, you could say I’m going toward Attalla or Gadsden.  Our direction of travel indicates our destination.  How foolish people would think me to be, if I traveled north hoping to arrive at a city to the south.  So it is with life, too many folks are traveling north with the thought of arriving somewhere south.

 We must be intentional in our journeys of life.  If we have some goal or destination, at some point we need to travel in that direction.  For instance, if you want to pay off your credit card bill, you have to pay more than you charge on it to move the needle in the right direction.  If you desire a college degree, you need to start taking some classes.  Intentionality is more than wishful thinking; you must do something in the direction of your desired destiny.

When it comes to spiritual matters, there are so many people who think they will end up in Heaven while they live like Hell.  Please, don’t pull the “No one is perfect card” on me!  We use that one for an excuse too often.  I agree we humans are not perfect but if we have a true relationship with Jesus; people will recognize the direction of our travel.  James 2:20 (NKJV) says, “But do you want to know O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?”

If we are true followers of Jesus our lives will be characterized by righteousness not rampant sinful behavior.  And in those moments when we act or react in an un-Christian way, people might even say, “You know, that was not like him!”  Those bad moments should take people by surprise and not be the usual for us.

If being like Jesus is our goal and Heaven is our destination then the fruits of the Spirit will be evidenced in our lives.  These fruits of the Spirit are found in Galatians 5:22-23 where they are listed as: love, joy peace, longsuffering [patience], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  These fruits are evidences of our direction not the determinants.

Our direction indicates our destination.  This journey with Jesus must resemble what it is or you may be walking in the wrong direction.  True repentance is a U-turn of the heart and mind which will result in action.  Yep, if you are truly headed somewhere, your eyes and feet will tell the truth.

Harry L. Whitt