“The Road Map To The Eternity”

(Transcript Of CD#82)

 

You and I are on life’s journey as we walk through this world. Our final destination will be determined by which road we travel. With that being strongly on our minds we need to make sure we are using the true map, the “Map of Life”!

Walk out your front door and get into your automobile. In your mind think of your destination and start the journey. Instead of going straight to that point turn just 10 degrees off the path.

 

Q. Are you going to make it to your planned destination?

A. No a chance, no way! We will get only as close as our planning will take us. It’s the same way in our daily lives; our first step of the day determines where we’re going. If we want the Lord in our lives then we must go to where He is daily and follow Him! This daily routine is what determines our final destination.

 

• John 14:1-6 says, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
• 2, In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
• 3, And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
• 4, And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
• 5, Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
• 6, says Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

 

In verse 6 we see that Jesus Christ said He is the way. Way was translated from the Greek word “hodos” and it means a road, by implication a progress, figuratively a mode or means.

Q. Where do we want to go when our life’s journey is over?

A. We want to be in Heaven with our Father and our Lord. Our Lord has just told us He is the road, the progression, and the means of gaining “Heaven”. He is the way, the highway to eternity in Heaven.

Satan and this world will promise you life with lies. Our Lord is life while Satan is death. See the following:

 

• Hebrews 2:14 says, “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;”

It’s our choice whether we want life or death. If we choose life then we must choose the True Way, which are Christ and His sayings. Look at what Simon Peter said:

•  John 6:68 says, “Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69, And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.”

It’s very important here that we have both names here: Simon Peter. Simon means “hearing”, while Peter means “a piece of the Rock”. If you and I want to be set on the solid Rock we must hear the Word and work our faith in Christ Jesus!

Q. How do we put our faith to work in Christ?

A. By building our everyday life according to His sayings and not the world’s. See the following:

• Matthew 7:24 says, “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
• 25, And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
• 26, says And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
• 27, says And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
• 28,  And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
• 26, For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”

 

If you will look trials, storms of life, they come to those who believe and to non-believers. One way or another, things will happen that will either kill us or make us stronger. The ones who live through to the eternity are the ones who were prepared. Praise be to God we know they are coming so let’’ prepare!

Our preparation is following after the Lord’s teachings, which is the Word of God. In your home study time look at the two different Greek words translated “beat” in verses 25 & 27. The storms were very different in those verses. The house (your life) founded upon Jesus Christ weathered very powerful storms and came through without falling. The house founded upon the sand fell at a much weaker storm.

In other words we can’t make it through this life and enter Heaven slip sliding around like sand. This world’s teachings do just like sand when water rushes over it. The sand moves at even the tiniest amount of water flowing. We can’t stay constant like God Almighty, like the Lord Jesus Christ and feed on sand!

 

• Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and forever.
• 9, Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.”

As we have done hinted at a second ago about where our Lord is, let’s continue:

Q. Don’t you think the best directions come from someone who has made the trip before?

A. I drive a truck for a living and I have gotten my share of driving directions in my lifetime. The best directions I have ever gotten we’re always from someone who knew the way from traveling it personally. A lot of people will tell you how to get to a certain location and they can’t even locate it themselves. Those are the one’s who might be founded upon the sand, be careful!

 

Q. Where are you wanting to go (as I have done ask), where is Jesus Christ?

A. Heaven! See the following:

•  Luke 24:50 says, “And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.

• 51 says And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.
• 52, And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:
• 53, And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.”

 

• 1 Peter 3:18 says, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:”
• 19, By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
• 20, Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
• 21, The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
• 22, says Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.”

 

There is so much meat in these verse, I wish we had the time to cover but the point in this study is location. Our Lord Jesus Christ was the “trailblazer”, sort of speak. He went through this world’s wilderness and surveyed us the road, the way to Heaven. He made the straight survey; a straight line is the shortest point between two points. I don’t know about you but He’s the One I‘m going to follow.

When we get off the path we encounter many hidden dangers. Think of a time when you went hiking in our beautiful forests. Our journey goes smoother when we follow a trail that has already been blazed!

Now that we have laid the groundwork let’s turn to the book of Psalms and see our prayer. If we want to be on the “Way” we must seek direction with a faithful heart and we will be rewarded! Let’s document that before turning to Psalms:

 

• Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. “

 

The word without here was translated from the Greek word “choris”. Choris means a space, empty expanse. It’s our faith that fills that separation between God Almighty and us. That faith is based upon Jesus Christ the Living Word. From the book of Romans we learn that if it’s not of faith then it’s sin. So hence if we have faith and work that faith God will reward us as we seek Him. So daily we will seek Him about His Way for our life. This is why we’re looking at this prayer in Psalms.

 

• Psalms 25:1 says, “A Psalm of David. Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul.”

 

The Lord God is the very Creator of our soul. So Who better is there to gain instruction from in our daily life. Jesus Christ made the way, the path so let’s seek Him and His road map daily.

 

• Psalms 25:2 says, “O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.
• 3, Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.”

 

Q. The key here is: Can you call God “my God”?

A. Remember those trials, those storms of life we talked about earlier. This is the key to staying founded, having a personal relationship with your Creator!

 

Q. Where is your trust (in the sand or in the Rock)?

A. The word trust here means to hide for refuge. We must run to the arms of our Creator daily and prepare through Him so we won’t be washed off the Way! We must rest in Him even when it looks like our enemies are flourishing. Remember God’s Word that in due times their foot will slip (in the sand). When we put our trust in Him we cannot fail or slide. Our roots grow down deep into the Living Water through the Rock. Now for our main text:

•  Psalms 25:4 says, “Show me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.”

We must be humble and be willing to listen with obedience if we’re to know the Way. The word show from the Hebrew means, “to know by seeing”. Hold that thought steadfastly please. We have done seen that Jesus Christ is the Way, and the Living Word. The Lord’s teachings point us on that Way.

 

Q. How do we gain insight, and understand the Word?

A. The Spirit of truth must reveal the Word to us. Without His help it’s futile to study. So we must see Him in order to receive instructions to Heaven. See the following:

•  John 14:12-26 says, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

• 13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
• 14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
• 15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
• 16  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
• 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
• 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
• 19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
• 20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
• 21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
• 22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
• 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
• 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.
• 25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
• 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

 

Note verses 17, 19, 21, 26 in particularly. The Holy Spirit is what shows us by vision the Way to Heaven and the eternity with our Lord. We must have our eyes fixed on the inmovable Rock seeking His Way. The Word of God is our instruction book that teaches us the Way, the way of least resistance in our life’s journey. The Word is like a light bulb going off in your head, your mind. See: (Psalms 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.)

Reread Psalms 25:4 please:

• Psalms 25:4 again says, “Show me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.”

As we move ahead in this study we will see there are certain qualifiers to having this prayer answed. I love this word teach, from the Hebrew it means, “to goad”. This is how perfect and timely the Living Word is to us in our changing world. Goad in the time of this writing was used in this sense; driving an animal with a stick. Picture a long stick with something sharp on the end of (like a nail). The animal was kept on the path by the pressure of the point.

Now let’s take it to the 21 century. A goad is also any driving impulse. Think of how your mind works with electrical sensations. As we walk daily in our lives seeking God the Holy Spirit gives our computer (brain) a shock. That impulse lights our path so we can stay on His Way! We may catch a bad break (storm) in life but He will help us, let’ document that:

 

• Psalms 27:10 says, When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.
• 11 says Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.
• 12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.
• 13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.”

 

Our Lord will never lead us where He has not already been. We know that from studying the Gospel of John in Chapter 10 that Jesus Christ goes ahead of us. That is why He can lead us, because He is ahead of us shining His light by His Holy Spirit.

 

Q. What is the qualifier in this context?

A. Next verse:

 

• Psalms 27:14 says, “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”

 

 

 

David could tell us all a little about “waiting” on the Lord. He was anointed to be king at age 16 but he did not take the throne until age 30. In the time we are waiting God is trying to teach us something for good. We must wait on Him, meaning what? This word wait from the Hebrew means, “to bind together by twisting”. We must twist our life around the Vine (Jesus Christ see John 15) and gain our nutrients from Him! When we partake from the Vine then we become alert from stimuli, from the electrical impulses. We learn this from understanding the word strengthen, from the Hebrew. It was translated from the Hebrew word “amats” meaning to be or make alert physically and mentally. That’s when we can see the Truth by the Holy Spirit teaching us this road map, this Word.

Let’s go back to Psalms 25 see another qualifier on knowing the Way.

 

• Psalms 25:9 says, “The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.”

 

Humble is the key in our relationship with our Lord. If we put our faith in Him first and stay humble then we can see the Way. You see the Spirit will lead us in a way that is contrary to natural thinking. In order for us to receive those impulses we must be humble.

 

• Psalms 25:10 says, “All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.”

 

This is how we can do a quick examination of our ways. Ask yourself am I walking the walk or just talking the talk. Meaning this: is my life full of mercy, is my life showing the works of the Lord Jesus Christ? If we want to walk on His way then we must “do” His way of life. Skip down to:

 

• Psalms 25:11-15 says, “For thy name’s sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.
• 12 What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.
• 13 His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.
• 14 The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant.
• 15 Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.”

 

So if we want to be able to see the Way, we learn here we must keep our sins covered. We also see we must reverence (fear) our Lord. All this means is to have deep respect for Him by putting Him first. Lord helps us to be in Your Way so we can claim these promises, have our prayers answered.

Let’s end this study with one last set of scripture for us to pray daily that will keep us on the Way!

 

• Psalms 143:1-12 (spec. verses 8 & 10) 143:1, “A Psalm of David. Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.
• 2 And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.
• 3 For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.
• 4 Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.
• 5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.
• 6 I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.
• 7 Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.
• 8 Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.
• 9 Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.
• 10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
• 11 Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.
• 12 And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.”

 

Please don’t hurriedly read over these verses of scripture, they will feed you and give you Light if you will receive. David was praying in verse 10 for the Lord to teach him to His will! God’s will is that none of His children should perish but all come to repentance. Remember (The Great Commission) as we walk on the Way back home: we are to serve others so they can find that same path. That is the key to gaining more, the more we let flow through us the more we’ll receive!

Please stay on the Right Way each and everyday so you can have joy and peace on your way back home. If we can help you please write us. We are here to serve you as the Lord leads.

 

GAP Ministries

“REMEMBER GOD’S WORD WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE!”

4/14/01 9:12:07 PM