Destination unknown

Many years ago, before we had any children, my wife and I went on a “fun” car rally. That’s an event that when you leave a certain point you are given a set of convoluted instructions and you have to make your way to an unknown destination, arriving at a predetermined time, having passed through a set of check-points and keep of a record of given sights or located objects along the way.

At one or more check-points there are further instructions about things to be located and handed in at the end of the rally. This event is run on a “need to know” and carefully follow the instructions basis.  

We were the last car to depart and my younger sister, who accompanied us, was convinced that we had “blown” any chance of winning. As we traveled around town and out into the countryside, our journey was peppered with comments like, “we are lost” “where are we going”, and “we’ll never win”. She had failed to grasp the concept that this event was not a race but a time trial. I had to keep reminding my sister that if we knew our destination, we might be tempted to take a short cut to get there, and in doing so, miss a vital check-point.

After several hours driving and locating such things such as a Californian thistle, a pine-cone, the name of a person on a certain gravestone, and other wacky objects, we arrived at our destination, just in time for the barbeque. Following our meal it was announced that we had won the event, much to my sister’s surprise.

It's not uncommon in a believer’s life that we get our “instructions” on a need to know basis. In my experience I have found this to be the way that God operates. We might think we need to know right now exactly where God is leading us, but God reveals our instructions when He thinks we need to know.

I still don’t know my ultimate destination in this life, but I do know what I need to know for this day, and for the general direction for the immediate future.

 

I was talking to a person recently who was wondering if a certain event was “in God’s will” for their life, so together we reviewed what “instructions” had been given to date. We then refreshed ourselves in the secure knowledge of just how God revels His plans and purposes.

John 10:3 tells us that…The sheep listen to His voice. He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out.

The sheep, that’s you and I, are not lost in some great universal flock of sheep; the shepherd knows each one individually, and by name.  He calls you and I by name - to follow Him into a plan that is uniquely crafted for you or I. John’s Gospel continues… He goes on ahead of them, and His sheep follow Him because they know His voice. John 10:4

If you know nothing about sheep, understand this one important fact… They will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from any stranger because they do not recognize his or her voice. For sheep, life is simple, stranger equals danger!

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me. John 10:11-14 NIV

Our daily walk as Christians is not so much about figuring out the plan – it’s about staying close to the Planner. He reveals His plans to each of us on a “need to know” basis – which is seldom more than the way to the next “check-point” If He told us where He’s wanting us to go we would do one of two things…  we would either run from it because it would sound scary based on what we know now, or we’d run to it and get there ahead of time… before the destination is ready or before we are ready. Either way, the result would be the same…. We would miss out on God’s plan and purpose.

God’s “instructions” to and for us will never lead us astray. They’re revealed on a “need to know” basis. When you need to know more, you will know. But until then, give everything we have got to what He’s already told each of us to do!

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:2 ESV

Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]. Romans 12:2 Amplified Bible