Finding Our Way: Finding a Guide

Let us begin with the basic truth that The Christian Life is a JOURNEY. It is a journey toward spiritual maturity. It begins with our spiritual birth. Much as we do in our physical lives, we grow and develop as Christians. That growth can be done well and produce a healthy, mature believer – or not. It won’t just happen. If we don’t work toward maturity we just grow old. Unfortunately, in my lifetime I have seen more old Christians than I have encountered mature Christians. Not a judgment; just an observation.

Our spiritual journey could be an impossible journey. It is impossible to complete if we do not begin. It is impossible if we do not first know where we are and then know where we are going. Jesus put it like this: You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” (John 14:4-5)

We are on a very simple yet very difficult journey. Don’t confuse the two. Simple doesn’t always mean easy. Especially when it comes to following God. One of my favorite preachers is Charles Swindoll. Several years ago, referring to the Christian life, he said when he first entered the Christian Life: “Gee, this is easy.” About a year into it he said: “Wow, this is difficult.” In the next year he said, “This is impossible.” And it was at this point that he felt God answered him and said, “Yes it is and I have just where I want you.” We don’t decide to be a Christian and then make it a do-it-yourself project. If we do we will invariably screw it up. We are warned in this short piece of scripture. “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)

To begin and complete this journey we must first get on the path. We will never grow spiritually if you are not born spiritually. One must be born before one can grow. Jesus gave this advice. “Jesus answered, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.’” (John 3:5-8)

As we take this journey we discover that it is dark and there are many hazards in our way. We live in the Kingdom of Darkness and are traveling into the Kingdom of God. The church serves as outposts of love and life in this present darkness. Travel in the dark is difficult and dangerous. For centuries nocturnal travel was rare.

Many things and people call us off the path. “Before every man there lies a wide and pleasant road that seems right but ends in death.” (Proverbs 14:12) We find that it is easy to get off that track. Many things sidetrack us: We get busy; We pursue a life of comfort and ease; We are comfortable adopting a worldly world view and value system – a common but ungodly value system.

To avoid this and to stay on the path we would do well to engage a Guide. “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:6) Many theologians don’t like this statement. They are uncomfortable because in our multicultural world, it makes Christians seem narrow-minded. (And there is no greater sin than narrow-mindedness.) I don’t believe it is a theological statement: I believe it is a practical statement. Sometimes when giving directions we realize there is only one way to go from here to there. I can tell you from experience that if you want to get to Wilmore, Kentucky, there is only one way. You don’t go through Wilmore on the way to someplace else. There is one road in. Take that or go cross country. And what better guide than someone who has walked the path before us? Who better to show us the way to God than God’s own Son?

Too often we think we have arrived when we have only arrived at the starting point. Christianity is a growing relationship with God, not a religion designed to get us to heaven. Heaven is a bonus. Christianity is about living life in the here and now. Jesus put it like this: “I have come that you might have life and have that life to the fullest.”

My reading of the New Testament tells me that Jesus is not interested in or impressed by religious people. He did not hang out with religious people. He did not seem to get along well with the religious people of his time. Looking at religious people throughout history tells us that religious people can be misled and can even be dangerous.  In our time we have proof of this by being exposed to radical Christians and Muslims. God talk is not the same as following God and growing spiritually. Again looking at the words of Jesus: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:21-23)

Christianity is more than accepting Jesus and getting our ticket punched to go to heaven. This limited concept of Christianity leads to some sadly shallow and almost silly discussions of the concept of salvation. I have heard questions like, “What about my Uncle Ray who accepted Christ but still beats Aunt Mary?  Is he still going to heaven?” What do you think? But what about us church people? We may no longer blatantly sin, but is it obvious to the casual and not so casual observer that you and I are children of God? Our Religiousness doesn’t necessarily move us forward on the pathway to life and spiritual maturity.

The key is to get to know Jesus and letting Jesus get to know us. It is a relationship. His ultimate criticism of what seem to be some very religious people is “I NEVER KNEW YOU.” What will Jesus say when he sees you? My hope is that he says, “Hi Bill. I’ve been expecting you.”

Copyright © 2015, William T. McConnell, All Rights Reserved

Bill McConnell is Senior Minister at Lindenwood Christian Church in Memphis, Tennessee and is a Church Transformation consultant and a Christian Leadership Coach. He is a frequent speaker at Church Transformation events. His latest book on church transformation is DEVELOPING A SIGNIFICANT CHURCH and is available at Westbow Press. He can be contacted @ bill45053@gmail.com. Connect with him on Facebook @ William T. McConnell or on Twitter @billmc45053 or visit his Amazon Author Page @ Amazon