Last week I was sitting at one of my favorite coffee shops in Portsmouth Hattie Beasley’s, where found myself sipping java and working on another column when I saw the funniest sign, “Unattended children will be given an espresso and a free puppy!” Don’t you just love that? Well, unless you were the parent of the receiving child! I really like coming across funny signs that while making you laugh are sending a clear message. Last year Terri and I were in California and ventured up to Lake Arrowhead. There were a host of shops on the lakefront and we noticed along the boardwalk a couple of good signs, “Please do not drop your cigarette buts on the ground. The fish crawl out at night to smoke them and we’re trying to get them to quit!” And this one, “Please don’t throw your cigarette ends on the floor, the cockroaches are getting cancer!” Humorous signs with a clear intent. You know, I think that God uses signs as well. What is it that Psalm 19 says? “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,” I think that God is saying, “I want everything and anything to “speak to you”. I believe every time the apostle’s saw a farmer sowing his seed in the field, they remembered Jesus words… “A sower went out and sowed his seed. And some fell on hard ground…” I believe when they walked by the sea and saw a boat battling the wind and the waves, they said, “Remember when Jesus spoke to the waves…and they listened to him? In Jeremiah 31, God said these words to his people through the prophet Jeremiah… “Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps: set thine heart toward the highway, even the way which thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities.” God was saying set up road signs; put up guideposts. Take note of the highway, the road that you take.” The context of that verse tells us that the nation of Israel had been drifting…wandering away from God. They had lost their spiritual bearings. And so God says…Take note of the highway…be aware of the road that you take as you travel it. Set up roads signs” to be obeyed. Like roads signs exist to guide and warn the motorist and regulate the flow of traffic, the road signs and guideposts that God sets up are to assist us in staying “on course”.
Let’s for a few minutes consider a few road signs that carry with them meaning for our walk with God. Lets look first at the “BEWARE OF FALLING OBJECTS” sign. Headed south out of Charleston West Virginia I often see those signs and sure enough from time to time you can see evidence that part of a mountain falls down and the rocks are scattered in the highway. Those “beware” signs are warning signs to stay alert and be on the watch for potential dangers. The Bible is filled with similar warnings, warnings that we don’t always take the heart like we should. Matthew 7:15 say "Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” 1 Corinthians 15:33 says “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” It may not happen all at once…but over time the wrong friends and companions often influence us…and turn us away from God. Another sign that comes to mind is the “SLOW” sign. Slow signs are posted for safety reasons when the typical speed limit is too fast for safety. And I think that some followers of Jesus Christ are always wont to be running “full speed” ahead. But there are times when the Bible tells us to slow down and wait on the Lord. Do you know that phrase “wait on the Lord” is found 21 different times in the Bible? Let me give you just a few of them “Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.” “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.” Please hear me…your life is designed by the manufacturer to “take time” with God.
There is one other sign I want to share with you and that is the “ONE WAY” sign. In John 14 Jesus is preparing his followers for His approaching death and he tells them not to be afraid because though he is leaving soon he is going to prepare a place for them. They instantly want to know how to get there and Jesus says, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me.” The claims Jesus makes here are exclusive claims. As the Christ, which means “the anointed One of God”, Jesus says that there is only one true way to the Father and He is it. That means not all religions are the same. Jesus didn’t say, “I am ONE OF THE WAYS” to the Father. He said, I am the way”. You don’t make it to heaven by doing good deeds. You don’t make it to heaven by giving generously. You can’t make it to heaven by being sincerely devoted to some belief. You make it by going through Jesus. When it comes to eternal life, Jesus says…there are not many ways and choose one. He says I am the way! The world, media, and other religions will tell you that there are many paths to God. The world will say that you need to be true to yourself. The world will say all you need to find God is a loving heart and to attempt to be a good person. Folks, that is simply not true. Jesus put up a ‘one way sign’ on the spiritual highway of life 2,000 years ago. Jesus is the only way to Heaven. Jesus is the only path to Salvation. Jesus is the only way to God the Father. He is it. One way. Just follow the sign!
"See I didn't make this up!"
Terri at Lake Arrowhead
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