“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:13-14
There are two important things on my calendar this week. Today is the day Trinity HOPE donors, workers and Haitian school kids set aside for a day of prayer for school feeding programs in Christian schools throughout Haiti. And tomorrow is Election Day here in the U.S. The question “Where are we going?” can be applicable to both days. Will all 255 schools with Trinity HOPE feeding programs be open this month? After the election, what direction will our country be going? God knows.
Last week, I read a familiar story that I’d heard before in a morning devotion and I thought that it would be good to share it today. The story is about Thomas Henry Huxley, a devoted follower of Charles Darwin. Following a series of public assaults against truths Christians held sacred, Huxley was in a hurry to catch his train to the next city. He took one of Dublin's famous horse-drawn taxis and settled back with his eyes closed to rest for a few minutes. He assumed the driver had been told the destination by the hotel doorman, so all he said to the driver was, “Hurry, I'm almost late. Drive fast!” The horses lurched forward and galloped across Dublin at a vigorous pace. Before long Huxley glanced out the little window and frowned as he realized they were going west, away from the sun, not toward it. Leaning forward, the scholar shouted to the driver, “Do you know where you are going?” Without looking back, the driver yelled back, “No, your honor! But I'm driving very fast!”
At times, it seems like we too, are moving too fast. The gang violence in Haiti has been operating on a wide highway and been going very fast. They certainly not seeking or following any directions from our Heavenly Father. We stand by, watch, pray and wait for our Lord to bring about His judgment to the gangs in Haiti. We pray that families can bury their loved ones, return to their homes and see children returning to school and resume eating that hot lunch.
For the past several months we have been inundated with political ads proclaiming how great one candidate is and how terrible their opponent seems to be. We give thanks for the freedom to vote and also that our Heavenly Father will bring forward candidates who seek our Triune God’s directions and favor. A candidate who will take the narrow and more difficult to navigate road, that leads to life. A narrow road requires a much slower and more careful pace. Leaders in our country need to seek wisdom from our Heavenly Father and draw us closer to Christ and bring other countries to recognize and follow the road on which we are traveling. It seems that many candidates and leaders are unaware of their destination. Through His Word and His Son, God looks from heaven and shouts to all of us below; “do you know where you are going?” Yes Lord, we are taking the narrow road. I am closing today with the words from the hymn ‘Jesus, Savior, pilot me.’ That were written by Edward Hopper in 1871.
“Jesus, Savior, pilot me, over life's tempestuous sea. Unknown waves before me roll, hiding rocks and treach'rous shoal. Chart and compass come from Thee; Jesus, Savior, pilot me! As a mother stills her child, Thou canst hush the ocean wild; boist'rous waves obey Thy will when Thou say'st to them, "Be still!" Wondrous Sov'reign of the sea, Jesus, Savior, pilot me! When at last I near the shore, and the fearful breakers roar. 'Twixt me and the peaceful rest; then, while leaning on Thy breast, may I hear Thee say to me; “Fear not, I will pilot thee!"
Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you,
Jay