Title: Seeking God’s Direction - World Communion

Date: 2008-10-05

Reference: John 14: 1-7

A tourist family rented a car in Switzerland. The car was parked on the top floor of a large, circular, parking garage. After they located the rented car they started out and became almost dizzy circling ever downward looking for an exit they never did find. Because most of the people they encountered didn’t speak English they couldn’t get directions. After an hour of circling the garage the driver was frustrated beyond belief. It didn’t help that his family thought it was so funny. They laughed until they cried. Finally they discovered there was no exit to the outside from that building. One had to make his way to another part of the garage to find an exit.

This might be a parable for life at times. We circle aimlessly around seeking some direction making no real progress. The problem is we often seek our directions in all the wrong places. Jesus said: “I am the way.” This last week I struggled long and hard with a decision I had to make. I went back and forth several times. One thing I’ve learned to do when seeking direction for life is to pray. To pray and ask God.

God is always anxious and willing to hear from us. More willing to hear from us than we are to share with God. In the book of Isaiah God said: “I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me. I was found by those who did not seek me. I said: ‘Here I am. I am here.’ All day long I have held out my hand to an obstinate people. I called but you did not answer. I spoke but you did not listen.”

I heard a preacher tell about a hiking trip deep in the woods of Northern Ontario. He was out in the woods all day long and the sun was beginning to set.

He realized he was lost. Growing concerned, he tried to find his way back. He followed a large overgrown path and eventually saw an old worn out sign. On the sign was an arrow and six faded words.”This is the only way out.” He took the sign’s advice and found the main road.

I wish all of life’s decisions were that easy. We wish someone could just give us a sign. Point us in the right direction. Sometimes it’s hard to know what choice to make. Millions of people seek direction in all the wrong places, consulting horoscopes, fortune tellers, magic, psychic hot lines. We would often do anything to get some glimpse of the future.

A traveling preacher was conducting revival services in a city he had never visited before. Leaving his hotel he got distracted and found himself lost. Seeing some boys playing on a sidewalk he asked them how to get to his destination. The boys were able to give him directions. As he was leaving one asked him what he was going to do there. He said: “I’m giving a talk. I’m going to tell people how to get to heaven. Why don’t you come and listen.” “No thanks” said the boy, “You don’t even know how to get to City Hall, how are you going to find heaven.”

There are times in life when we just can’t get directions for life. Life is full of decisions and choices. We are a people in need of direction. Our nation is in the midst of a political campaign in which candidates are offering to lead us one direction or another. Candidates spend fortunes trying to convince us they know the direction we should be heading. And time will tell who we will believe and follow.

Today we want to know God’s will for life.

We are always seeking God’s will for our church. The search for God’s direction in life never ends. As I’ve said, we seek and know God’s will through prayer. A new United Methodist Church was beginning in Kansas City. The night before the church held it’s first worship service the pastor gathered with a small group of believers who would be the core members of this new church. They prayed.”Lord, this church belongs to you and not to us. Our desire is to do what you want us to do. And to be who you want us to be. You know the people you want us to reach. We place ourselves in your hands to be used by you.”

Whether a church is a few hours old or has been around a very long time, we cannot go wrong praying is this way. We always acknowledge God’s sovereign Lordship in our lives and in our church. There is no better place to be than in the caring hands of God.

As we seek God’s direction we discover God has been speaking to us each and every day. We just aren’t always listening. God speaks in and through the beauty of nature, the love of our families. God speaks through the Bible. As we read the Scripture we learn how certain things are right and helpful and other things are all wrong. The teachings of the Bible help us with the life decisions we must make. God also speaks to us through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit promises to dwell in our lives and is always a faithful guide.

God speaks through people, events, and circumstances. Sometimes when we pray for direction from God, we are led to seek the advice or counsel of another person who has had to make a similar decision.

When God is leading us we feel a peace unlike anything the world is able to offer. I always remember.when we need direction in a world filled with noise and distraction there is a quiet place where God speaks and offers direction. That place is prayer. A good prayer would be to ask God which direction to take. To admit there are many options and they all could be inviting. A good prayer is: “What shall I do Lord?” I believe with all my heart that if we ask God will answer. Our problem is not hearing but accepting and following.

In life we must sometimes make split second decisions. We have no time at all before we must react. There are other times when we agonize over our decisions. And sometimes one path seems as good as another.

In the Bible we read about people who sought out God’s leading, direction, and will by casting lots. They believed God was there helping to guide them through the casting of lots. This was how the Apostles chose a 12th leader to replace Judas. After praying over two very strong candidates they asked God and cast lots.

We all like to make informed decisions. Sometimes we choose and end up making a mistake. Even then God allows us to live and learn and grow. God allows us to learn from hind sight. I hope we never make the same mistakes twice but we have to pay the price for the mistakes we do make. It is sad when we refuse to learn from the past. Mistakes are going to happen. They are a part of life. If we learn from them we allows ourselves to glean some blessing out of an otherwise difficult situation. I know God would be more involved in our decisions if we invited Him to be.

Even so, God’s will is not always done.

God has a will for our lives but God has also given us free will. When we choose to go our own way God chooses to limit Himself. God allows us the freedom to choose to make mistakes and cause problems in our lives. Because everyone else also has free choice the mistakes and decisions other people make impact us.

Remember God is in ultimate control of the final outcome. God can and will take all our mistakes and willful disobedience and turn them around and bring some good out of the bad. God will take a very bad situation and bring some good from it. God has the final say and God decides what will happen.

In today’s Scripture reading Thomas said to Jesus: “How can we know the way?:” Jesus said: “I am the way. The Truth. The life.” You often hear these verses shared at funeral or memorial services. They are very comforting as we hear Jesus promise that heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people. And how God gives individual attention to a permanent dwelling place for each of His Sons and Daughters.

This was a very difficult time for the Apostles. They were very confused about what Jesus had been saying.confused about their future. Thomas said what they were all thinking: “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. We don’t know the way.”

Jesus said: “Believe in me. I am the way.” Jesus was referring to so much more than heaven. Jesus offers to be our constant comfort and guide all through life. He will help us give us directions. In this passage Jesus promised to send us another helper, another friend, another guide who is the Holy Spirit. That promise has been kept. Because of the personal relationship we are invited to enjoy with God we can know God’s direction for our lives.

When we find and choose to follow God’s plan for our lives.we are fulfilled in a way we would not be other wise. God is ready to share His wisdom with us today. As we come to God in prayer we should be very open.listening carefully to what God has to say to each of us.