This series is based on the series of the same name from Northpoint Church
Week 1 was on body extremes - body neglectors and body worshippers and what God has to say to us about that. Week 2 was on heart and all the issues of our hearts - how to have healthy God honoring hearts . . . Throughout the 1st and 2nd weekend of this series and now this week - there is one key principle . . .
Key principle in series:
Our bodies were made by God - for God - to honor God. (repeat)
That's the key truth to this whole 4 week series . . . Our bodies were made By God - For God - to Honor God . . .
Today - how do we honor God with our feet? Again you might be surprised, as I was, that the Bible has tons of references to our feet . . . and all the way through scripture when God talks about our feet . . . . . . He uses an interesting picture . . . The Bible says that we honor God best with our feet when we place our feet on the right path . . . . . . All through the pages of this book there is a correlation/connection between our feet and different pathways . . . The Bible says it's like our feet are held hostage to the paths we follow . . . in fact there is a principle that I want you to remember today that speaks of this connection (the principle of the path) . . . The principle of the path, says this - (its simple but full of possibility) . . . Ready . . . ? ( "The path you're on, determines where you will end up . . . " ) And what I will try to teach you today is that . . . it is not our dreams or desires or intentions or motivation that determines where our life ends up, but it's the path we place our feet on . . . Direction determines destination . . . not dreams . . . that's the principle . . . . . and there is a direct connection between the path we choose and where we end up in life.
Now here's the scoop - what I just said is not rocket science . . . in fact it's simple and pretty basic - even obvious . . . but . . . what we're gonna see today is that as obvious as that is - (I mean even when we look at a map - we know direction determines destination) . . . but as obvious as it may seem . . . the truth is . . . when it comes to the paths we have chosen:
- relationally
- morally
- financially
- marriage
- careers
The truth is many of us have our feet on a path . . . . . . and we have not Checked out where that path leads . . . because we believe we're:
-smart enough
-careful enough
-slick enough or
-cautious enough
that we can place our feet on any path we want, and we can determine the outcome . . . but the truth is "the path itself determines the outcome, " not your smarts or your dreams or your personality or your desires . . . or your education . . . but it's the path . . . because (every single path has a pre-determined destination) . . . (repeat) (and you can't change it!)
And so the goal of our lives is not simply to dream big dreams . . . and to have tons of drive and determination . . . the goal is not to ask ourselves how much drive do I have . . . or how determined am I . . . but (here's the question we must ask . . . ready?) Have I placed my feet on a path that takes me in a direction I desire to go in . . . (because every path we walk on has a pre-determined destination.)
You ever wake up late? - have that sense that you've got to be somewhere other than where you're at? Or at another time than where your at? . . . I hate that feeling . . . Well sometimes we wake up late in life as well (you know) we're 43 years old and we are in a different place than we thought we would be . . . why does that happen? . . . (Folks) It has nothing to do with how hard we've worked or how electric our personality is or how big we've dreamed . . . where we find ourselves in life is a direct result of the path we have chosen . . . and sometimes that's tough to hear . . . but it's so true . . . in fact even as I say it you can't believe how true it is . . . The pathway determines the destination - not us . . . Let me read you a great section/story from the book of Proverbs in the Bible - (words of wisdom written from an old sage - man of wisdom to his son. . . .)
At the window of my house I looked out through the lattice. I noticed among the young men, a youth who lacked judgment and he was going down the street near her corner, walking along in the direction of her house at twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in. Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent. (She is loud and defiant, her feet never stay at home; now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.) She took hold of him and kissed him and with a brazen face she said: "I have fellowship offerings at home; today I fulfilled my vows (cultural thing). So I came out to meet you; I looked for you and have found you!
Proverbs 7:6-15
Not a bad beginning to the story - you can almost see the young man leaning in to hear more . . . from the old sage . . . . So . . . she comes up to him and kisses him - and says I'm in a good place - she says it's a special day - a day of celebration and I want to celebrate with you . . .
Her point to the young man is this . . . That this is a unique experience, in fact this is the first time this has ever happened . . . isn't it amazing - you walking here with nowhere to go and me just happening to be here - isn't it special - isn't this unique - it really must be meant to be . . . (and the young man says . . . "wow" I guess so - what ever you say . . . ?)
I have covered my bed with colored linens from Egypt. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. Come, let's drink deep of love till morning; let's enjoy ourselves with love! My husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey. He took his purse filled with money and will not be home till full moon." With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk. All at once he followed her:
Proverbs 7:16-22
Stop . . . . . . . . pause in the story . . . And He's thinking - it doesn't get any better, this is gonna be great - it's gonna be a night to remember - I'm in the right place at the right time - sweet - deal - nice - program . . . but the words of wisdom . . . . . . - the voice of discernment and good judgement is looking from a different angle . . . Look at the sages description of what path the young man is on . . .
All at once he followed her . . . like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him his life.
Proverbs 7:22b & 23
- Like an ox going to slaughter . . .ever see this? - It's just a big, bloody, stinky, mess. Think about that . . .
- A deer in a noose . . . silent - choking - death.
- A bird in a snare . . . it had no idea it was so close to death . . .
Now - I'm just guessing . . . but I bet none of these word pictures are what the young man had in mind while he is with the woman that night . . . he was thinking - it doesn't get any better than this . . . he's thinking - you proverbs - wisdom guy - you don't have a clue what your talking about - look at her . . . that is not the path I'm on . . . "what do you know?" . . . ox to the slaughter . . . bird in a snare. I am so sure - did you hear what she promised me? Did you smell that perfume? Have you seen her? I'll be just fine . . . . . . and the writer of Proverbs says to the young man - the path you're on is not unique . . . it's not new or unique to you . . . this isn't some new territory that only you have discovered . . . young man . . .
No . . . people have traveled this road 100's of 1000's of times . . . in fact the old sage says . . . . . . so many people have traveled this path over 1000's of years - that I know exactly what's gonna happen . . . you're like an ox going to the slaughter . . . and one day you're gonna wake up and wonder, . . . how in the world did I get into this? . . . and the answer is . . .simple - you put your feet on a path . . . and it may not have been your intent to mess up your life . . . it wasn't your goal or dream, but so what ? None of those have anything to do with your destination . . . (my son) he says you simply chose a path with a pre-determined destination and that is where you've arrived . . . and so the voice of wisdom and truth says -young man Where your life ends up, has nothing to do with your drive, or intellect, or goals, or education, or dreams . . . those don't do it . . .
The Path determines your destination . . . you've chosen a path and it's just a matter of time. I know where you're headed . . . in fact . . . as soon as we read those verses today - everyone of you knew where he was headed as well . . .it's not a mystery . . . . but here's what we don't always understand . . . somehow . . . in our lives this simple truth (the principle of the path) is a mystery . . . it's a fog . . . and often we find ourselves wandering around clueless . . . because we think were charting a new course . . . into new territory - and we think it's unique to us . . . and God says . . . don't be foolish . . . there's only a few paths people follow . . . . . . just a handful . . . and God says I already know what's at the end of all of them - I know where every path leads, and I would love to shine a light on all of those for you.
See . . . God says it's not your intellect or personality or wit or connections that make the difference . . . it's the PATH! Every path has a predetermined destination . . . See, . . . the young man in our story is so focused on what is on the path . . . . . . what's right in front of him, and what he will experience right now on the edge of his path . . . but the old man of wisdom is focused on the path itself and what he will experience later . . . the path determines the destination . . . This may help clarify this even more.
Now - I love to drive . . . I love it - and I like exploring new roads - new ways to get from here to there - drives my wife crazy . . . Last fall - we all went hunting for a day - crazy day . . . took the kids out of school - anyway we were up in the hills near Lucky Lake . . . and we got following a ravine that I thought might have deer in it . . . and I thought - well we're headed the right general direction - so I kept going . . . and at the end of that ravine . . . after a few miles . . . we . . . eventually hit a road . . . and I said to Pam this will probably lead us to Beechy - (Destination). Key word, "probably." . . . . We followed it and followed it and followed it . . . all the while thinking it was going to Beechy - when actually it was headed in a whole other direction - ended up in some guys ranch and I had to get directions . . . which is hard for any man to do . . . but especially hard after your wife has been saying . . . maybe we should ask for directions . . . well . . . That rancher kinda looked at me funny and said something like . . . . "son . . . you're never gonna get to Beechy on that road." . . . He gave me this . . . what are you thinking, boy . . . look . . . (rooster - cartoons) ("Use your head son"- "I say boy") - ("the path determines the destination - not your truck") . . . He thought I was crazy - you gotta go the other way!
And you too would think I'm crazy if I said yeah . . . I'm gonna drive south down highway 11 on my way to Prince Albert . . . you'd say - Dean you're gonna end up in Regina not Prince Albert . . . What are you crazy? . . . . . . But in life we do that . . . We think we can out wit the path we've chosen . . . we do . . .
We choose the path of workaholism and then we wonder 14 years later why our marriage is in trouble and we don't have any intimacy in our relationship and we can't communicate to each other . . . - and we think we have a marriage problem - no (it's not a marriage problem . . . ) we have a path problem . . . We arrived exactly where that path lead to . . . See . . . you can't give everything to your work and have your best at home too -
Those roads don't co-exist - it's one road . . . and where you end up is determined by the path you choose.
Debt is a path . . . and if we continue to take every no interest - no money down - no payments until next year deal . . . that path will not lead to financial freedom . . . - and we get a few years down the road and we can't figure out why we don't have enough money to make all the payments . . . well, at that point - we don't have a financial problem . . . we have a path and destination problem. We walked on a path that lead exactly where we didn't want to go . . . The path determines the destination . . .
Immorality - is a path - see, you can't sleep around with anyone you want . . . whenever you want before your married . . . and then expect to have this ultimate intimacy packed oneness with that one person the rest of your married life. How come you say? Because the path is clear . . . and the path chooses the destination once you're on it . . . (not you or your dream) . . . but the path determines the destination . . . You know what? I can't even count the number of people who have been through my office in the past 16 years with huge regret morally - and it's kinda funny (but not hilarious) because everybody says the same thing . . .
"I can't believe where my life is at - I can't believe what a mess I'm in I can't believe how my family is ripped apart or I can't figure out why I don't want anybody close to me anymore or I can't believe she doesn't trust me any more . . . I can't believe I've lost them all . . . . Sexual immorality is a path that we think we can out wit. . . but we say . . . "It will be just fine" . . . "my kids will be okay" - "my heart will not get hurt" . . . "my mind won't be changed" . . .
Like an ox going to slaughter . . . like a deer stepping into a noose . . . like a bird darting into a snare . . . little knowing it will cost him his life.
Every road has a destination and folks it's the road that choose that destination not us . . .
One of my favorite roads is the #1 heading west out of Calgary towards Banff - awesome foothills country - (leads to the mountains) . . . and that road . . . even though I love it, is not unique to me . . . it leads to the mountains for all who travel on it . . . it's where everybody on that road ends up . . . but somehow in life, and it's a mystery to me - somehow we believe . . . if we're smart enough, or work hard enough, or if we are sharp or slick or engaged enough . . . it doesn't matter what path . . . we walk on . . . because we'll be able to determine the outcome . . . no matter what the path . . . . . . and its just not true . . . It would be great to drive that #1 highway west of Calgary and end up in Saskatoon - But . . . . . . it doesn't matter who you are, or what you do, the path determines the destination . . . And you'll be having lunch in Banff - not Saskatoon.
So what? . . . . . . What do you do with this wonderful principle of the path . . . especially if you find yourself on the wrong one - or maybe you just want to know which ending the path you are following will have . . .
Application:
Wake up call . . . ?
Verge of disaster?
Path you're on isn't where you want to go - but you don't know any different. Well here's how to apply his principle . . . 4 words . . .
First word STOP
At some point - along the way - the best thing to do if you're not exactly sure of where you're going . . . the best thing to do is to stop - to full over . . . Now this might look like a couple of hours alone . . . or it might look like a day away, or a weekend by yourself . . . to just rev. down a little bit . . . and say, before I take even one more step down this path . . . I'm just gonna stop and ask myself some hard questions . . . I'm just gonna unplug for a little while and refocus and stop! . . . and after your stop (1st thing) then you've gotta
LOOK
And instead of looking at what's in front of you right now - instead of looking right here today . . . you gotta look way down the road and ask the question . . . . If I can't continue the direction I'm headed . . . where will it end up? Not how smart am I or how can I out wit this path . . . but, where does this pathway I'm on . . . lead? Where does it go? Relationally . . . if I continue - where will I be? Financially . . . if I continue - where will I be?
Morally . . . ?
As a parent . . . ?
Where will I end up?
In my business . . . ?
Physically . . . ?
Not . . . am I enjoying the trip . . . but where does the path lead? Now catch this . . . you must not fool yourself into thinking that if you're smart enough or slick enough or have the right connections . . . that you can out wit the path . . . (cause) every path has a pre-determined destination . . . . . . And while you're looking . . . make sure to
LISTEN
Because somewhere in your life there is the voice of wisdom - the voice of reason . . . perhaps it's someone who has walked the path before . . . someone who knows the destination . . . someone who you could go for lunch with and just say . . . "Here's where I'm at . . . what do you think ?" . . Folks, listening is all about being teachable - it's all about being humble . . . it's all about not thinking you or I know it all . . . . You know what ? Every significant path change, (for the better) that my life has taken . . . involved someone else, who I was willing to listen to - someone who had enough guts to speak into my life and say . . . . there's another path other than the one you're following . . . or, "have you seen or thought through the path you're on?" . . . . . . I think there is trouble there . . . Every great path change has involved someone with a voice of wisdom (in my life). Every time . . . and the converse is also true . . . every time I have had huge regret in my life from following a wrong path . . . if I think back along that path . . . there was somebody that gave we a warning - someone that I didn't listen to - someone who had the words of wisdom I needed - but I thought I was too smart or too fast or too right to listen . . . and they were wrong and I was all good and then came the reality . . . of where the path lead . . .
Listening is critical . . .but it only comes after you stop and take a long look (then we can listen) and after we listen . . . we gotta
LEARN
You know what? This book (Bible) shed's more light on more paths that any other book in the world . . . (why?) these are God's words, God's ideas - God's thoughts about life . . . This book describes the pathway. Psalm 119:105 "Your word is a lamp unto my feet . . . a light for my path . . . " This book - the Bible is like a giant light on all the paths of life . . . . And it says . . . . . .
here is what happens when . . . . . .
here is what happens if . . . . . .
here is what happens . . . .
Here are the ends of the paths of life . . . A lamp and a light . . . all we have to do is learn.
Folks, here's who God is . . . our God is a God who loves you and me so much . . . He cares about us so much that He says, "you don't have to walk in darkness" - "you don't have to walk in a fog about the future . . . I'll light the path for you . . . follow this path - the path of wisdom . . . God says - stay connected to me - follow my pathway - and you won't have to learn everything the hard way . . . God says, I know you're smart and I know you think you can control the future and I know you think you can change the direction of the path you're on . . . but you can't . . . the path determines the destination . . . not you . . . and the destination is pre-determined (by the path ) and where you place your feet makes all the difference in the world . . .
Let me read you another verse to close (just a few pages from the story I read to you earlier) . . . .
The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.
Proverbs 4:18 & 19
On my families land near Archerwill, Saskatchewan . . . .there is an old road - a pathway - an old wagon trail through the trees from 100 years ago . . . (I love that path - have since I was a kid . . . ) Now, it's grown up (trees) but it's still there . . . it's a little treacherous . . . roots - rocks - rivers - trees - logs . . . .beautiful but tough to walk on - I was there yesterday . . .
Here's the key . . . .I know where the path leads - it leads to one of my favourite spots in the whole world - right down by the Red Deer River. Awesome (only way to get there) . . . . and when I'm following that path (key is ) if I get caught up in every step or every rock or every root or log I can easily get into trouble . . . and get off the path - thinking I know a better way or an easier way or a shorter way . . . But the truth is - if I lift my head a little (me Friday) I can see a long ways off and if I focus on the destination and if I stick to the path - it gets me exactly where I want to go - just stick to the path!! To a sweet spot just high enough to over look the river and see down the other side . . . and watch some elk or a moose or a beaver or two . . . just as the sun comes up . . . awesome . . .
"The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of the dawn - shining ever brighter till the full light of day . . . "
People - there is a path that leads to the greatest destination you can imagine . . . it is a destination of soul . . . and yes . . . there are still hazards and corners and places where you could stumble . . . but . . . if you hold to that path - and stay focused on the future . . . you'll find that the fog will lift and the darkness will fall away and God will shine his light on the road ahead of you . . . It's a path that leads way from destruction and regret and leads directly towards fulfillment and joy and peace and life . . .
Follow that pathway with your feet . . . You will not be disappointed. |
