Pathfinders and Trailblazers

22Feb22
No.17
///// An IronMen Moment /////

(For passing along to men and young men in your life.)

Pathfinders & Trailblazers

Ever lead others through a dense forest? Especially a long line of people, where there are many switchbacks and trail off-shoots? Or, perhaps you were among those hiking along the line?

Sometimes people lose sight of those in front of them. And they take a trail that goes somewhere else. They may even get lost. That can be scary at times, right?

The same thing can happen to us as followers of God. We lose sight of who we're following, or we get distracted by something off-trail. We may even find ourselves lost and confused.

There is a great verse about that in the prophets. It's a statement by God Himself (those are my favorites, the quotes directly from God). At the time, He spoke to anyone who would listen in Israel, and so He continues to speak to all of us throughout all times.

"If you leave God's path
and go astray
You will hear a voice
behind you say,
'No, this is the way.
Walk here.'"

What's even better: it rhymes! Did you hear it?

It's in Isaiah 30:21 (in an unknown translation by a former Columbia Bible College president).

A more literal, word-for-word translation, is found in the ESV.

"And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left."

It reminds us of a couple of take-aways:


1. The principle of Looking ahead AND Listening behind. We ALL get lost on occasion. Sometimes by choice (with a stubborn will that chooses sin instead of a good path). Sometimes by accident (we just don't see a warning sign when it's there). Either way, God provides the restoration we need in I John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Memorize that one, for sure.

2. Our Helper, the voice of the Holy Spirit, is giving us guidance every time we seek Him for it, and even when we don't. "You will hear a voice behind you say, 'No, this is the way. Walk here.'" That voice is the Holy Spirit within a believer.


3. Getting used to following His lead. It's easy for us to assume we are in the lead in our lives, and forget Who the Captain is. The Apostle Paul reminded some first century believers, "your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body" (I Corinthians 6:19,20, esv). We literally (not figuratively) belong to our Savior, the Captain of our souls.

So...
"If you leave God's path
and go astray
You will hear a voice
behind you say,
'No, this is the way."

Be sure you listen, just as we train to do in the wilderness...

and
"Walk here.'"

---