HEAV’N BEFORE US

While I was driving I noticed a license plate on the car ahead of me. It read “HEAV’N.” Am I glad I’m not in that car, I thought to myself. He has heaven behind him and I have heaven ahead of me. All day, I thought about life with heaven before me. Like driving, living with heaven before us involves certain rules of the road.

Stay within the speed limit. Life has both difficult and easy-going times. By racing through them, we lose the opportunity for the growth that accompanies challenges and the peace that comes with contentment. Learning to pace ourselves means living each day as it comes, neither borrowing trouble from tomorrow nor resting on yesterday’s accomplishments.

Do not cut off people, or pass them by. Being available to others requires us to give every moment and opportunity to God for the work of His kingdom. Listen to Him first, then to those who come in need of answers or help. Never hesitate to detour when someone asks for assistance.

Obey the rules. I would have had a difficult time following the car with “heav’n” on its license plate, if the driver had been weaving in and out of traffic, speeding, running stoplights, or leaving the road. Even though Paul reminds us we are not under the law but grace, we still have certain rules to guide everyday living so that we can arrive at our destination safely. Lead others with your actions. Telling them about God’s love is not nearly as effective as showing them.

Always wear your seat belt, or, as Paul wrote the Christians at Ephesus, gird yourselves with the belt of truth. Without the map found in Holy Scriptures, we can easily lose our way. The wise traveler recognizes the necessity of consulting the directions frequently, especially when the terrain is unfamiliar or challenging.

Let God take the wheel of your life. When I am driving, I know the way; I take the shortcuts; I know when and where to stop. With God in control, we sometimes go the long way, up hills, through tunnels and valleys, across bridges. He may go too fast or too slow for me and when I say, “Stop,” He often urges me to go just a little farther. As I learn to trust God at the wheel, I can concentrate on the adventure of the journey rather than the potholes ahead.

How do we live with heaven before us? Every morning as you climb into your car, ask God to take control of the wheel, the direction of the day, and the opportunities along the way.

God's GPS

For Christmas, my husband bought me a GPS (Global Positioning System). I generally have a good sense of direction and don’t get lost too often, but, for my job, I drive in areas that are largely unfamiliar to me so the GPS seemed like a good idea.

I have to admit I do like it for certain things—especially for driving from one place to the next in communities where I don’t know my way around. I also like that it tells me when I will arrive at the next destination, and I try to beat its estimate.

You know how a GPS works—a satellite somewhere way above earth tracks my car, (almost scary, isn’t it?) and tells me when to turn. If I decide I know a better way and take a detour from the programmed route, the GPS complains and tells me to turn around. After a minute or so, it gives up trying to correct me and recalculates my route and gives me new directions.

I think God does the same thing. He allows us to make mistakes; He uses our mistakes to teach us His way is best. He constantly re-calculates our path and tries to tell us which way He wants us to go. If we follow His way 100% of the time, life wouldn't necessarily be easier, but it would make Him happy. And ultimately, we’d be happier also.

Instead, I stray, He corrects, I learn (sometimes), I stray again.