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You have not passed this way
Joshua 3:4
The Israelites were about to cross the Jordan into Canaan. The wilderness was about to be left behind forever. It was a new way on which they were setting out on. The experiences as such as they had never had before hence the command was . . . “put the Ark to the fore, keep your eye upon it, and let it lead you” The incident from very olden times, still has it’s lessons for us today. It is, that we dare not go into any new way of life unguided by God, but God leads, we need never to fear any new experiences, however new and strange of difficult and full of peril they might entail.
All life is new. There is not a step of it, of which it may be said unto us . . . Joshua 3:4 “you have not passed this way before” Every days path is new to each one of us. We say our lives are just dull and boring. We rise each morning to go through the same routines we went through yesterday. We walk along the same roads every day for years. Life seems to have NO variety. Yet really each day is new and strange. We do not know what experiences it will bring to us, what joys or sorrows, what struggles, what responsibilities, what new revealings, and what new duties? Each morning hear the voice of God whispers to us . . V4 “you have not passed this way before, therefore keep your eye on your Guide”
No one of the millions who have gone before us have never passed over the path on which our feet must walk. A thousand ships may cover the same sea, but each one the voyage is now unfamiliar. There are no paths to trace in the sea. No keels leaves tracks for others to follow. No one is going to have ‘precisely’ the same experiences that we’ll have, hence no other life can be a copy of us. That is why therefore we must have in all things divine guidance.
Just before the New Year a young Christian, who had just recently become a follower of Christ, wrote .. to the friend who had helped an guided her .. ‘Will you let me put my hand in your again for the New Year?’ ..The friends reply was this ..’Yes, but in Christ’s hand first’ .. Human guidance is not enough for anyone, only Christ can lead you safely & securely.
The passing from childhood to young adulthood, is one of the points at which special direction is needed .. [NKJ] 1 Corin 13:11 “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child, but when I became a man, I put away childish things” … All things are. Life, now, begins to become real as an adult. Questions must be met, duties must be taken up, responsibilities must be assumed. There are now dangers & snares at every turn, what is needed is divine guidance, and not just in the morning, but at every turn during the day. When the young man/woman goes out from their home into the World, to attend school, or to begin at work, it is as if he entered a new strange new World ..
All is strange and bewilderings
… they’ll meet new temptations they had never known before. Whilst the novelty of this life holds it’s fascination for them, but the fascination is also full of danger. They’ll miss the wholesome restraints of home and the direct influence of the accustomed guides of their youth, and with the removal of the familiar restraints. The young person who is wise will move reverently and humbly into this new World that thus opens up before them. They will seek to enter it with Christ Jesus by their side. When becoming a Christian we think it is all sweetness and light. Sorry but have burst your bubble here, because we have just painted a massive target on our back, the thing remember is . . [1 John4:4] “He who is in you is greater than he who is the World” . . It’s a given fact that throughout our journey [race], many will loose their way in the darkness and wonder off, lost. When we see those whom we would say hi each Sunday service, stop coming, do we say oh well, or do we come along side them and with wisdom gently encourage them back into the fold. Just as David would look for his missing sheep, even enduring affliction whilst fighting off Bears & Lions . . . 1Samuel 17:34 .. “Your servant used to keep his fathers sheep, and when a Lion or a Bear came and took a lamb out of the flok, I when after it ..” … so no matter the demons that must be fought, every soul saved and restored to the fold, they are worth it.
As we fight the voices of dark and sorrow, you’ll hear God saying .. “You have not passed this way before” .. The path is new and beset with, the floods are deep and wild. So always be sure to keep your eyes on the one true divine leader (Jesus Christ) before you, therefore be sure to follow His ways.
If I may leave you with this las thouhgt, I guy was out hiking a trail, that he had done so many times brfore, suddenly found himself lost. As over night the snow fall had abliteratedthe path so much that he could not find the path. that was until he saw the foot prints of the deer. So realising the deer will know the way to go ... [Q: being honest how many have been lost not knowing which way to go? If in a car, prior to have SAT-NAV?] ... he followed the foot prints left behind, eventually leeding him safly back down to where there was a path to follow. 2 Corinthians 5:7 "For we walk by faith, not by sight" ... so again being honest with yourself , and not to me, can you truthfully, how many are giving over your finances - your morraige -house payments - your job promotion - School exams to God? I hope your now fully getting the message because the closer we become to God, this is what it means to be a Christian!
Prayer
Just because we drive/walk the same roads every day there is always going be something different, so we are asking you Lord to guide each step we take, that you'll be there to work everything for our good. We ask for you direction and love this day, in your sons name Jesus we pray, Amen.
