Flawless Guides

 

Many years ago, a great meteor shower could be seen from the Southeastern United States. Nothing like this meteor shower had ever been witnessed by those who had the privilege to see it. In fact, it scared people. Those who saw this great event began thinking that the world was about to end. They thought the skies were quite literally falling out of the heavens. On a ship in the same coastal waters, an old grizzled captain told his men not to worry. He told them he had his eye on the North Star and as long as it remained in the sky they would be okay. This old captain had come to rely heavily on the North Star to guide his ship safely across the seas. For many years he had put his faith and trust in that star and he knew he was safe as long as that particular star could be seen. This old captain can teach most of us an important lesson today.

[Psalm 18:30] As long as our great star is still standing, we have nothing to fear. I don’t think we have to ask ourselves who the Christian’s great star is. It is Jesus the Christ. As the North Star points the way for sailors, Christ is directing our path home (John 14:1-6). As the North Star is constant and immovable, Christ remains the same in a world full of change (Jude 3ff). As the North Star stands out in the night sky, Christ stands apart from all other men who have ever lived on this earth (Hebrews 4:14-16). Recognizing Christ in this way is easy, However, it is not enough to simply recognize Christ as our great guide in heaven; we must be willing to put our entire faith in Jesus as the Son of God and Savior of the world. Imagine the amount of faith the old captain in our story had in the North Star. When others believed the entire world was collapsing down on them, he knew things were okay because of one star. In today’s world, Christians can become overwhelmed by the very things that comfort us. Often times we lose our faith or our faith becomes severely weakened, when our world begins to crumble around us. At some point in life most of us face many types of health, financial, family or other serious problems. Recently, it seems “storm clouds” have encircled many people due to lost jobs, poor health and the general economic situation in our country. Feeling like the skies are falling down around us it is quite easy to begin counting our problems instead of our blessings. There may be times when we feel we are all alone and overcome by life’s difficulties. God did not promise to take away our troubles, but He did promise he would never leave nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). When trials surround us, He offers comfort and hope through His Word (Romans 15:4). He gives us peace through Christ (Philippians 4:7). If we are in Christ nothing can separate us from God (Romans 8:35-39). When fear and desperation are taking root in your heart, remember the old captain who reassured his crew during the meteor shower… “Keep your eye on the star” (Philippians 3:12-14).

The Master Weaver’s Plan (Author Unknown) “My life is but a weaving, Between the Lord and me; I may not choose the colors– He knows what they should be. For He can view the pattern, Upon the upper side, While I can see it only, On this, the underside. Sometimes He weaves in sorrow, Which seems so strange to me; But I will trust His judgment, And work on faithfully. ‘Tis He who fills the shuttle, And He knows what is best; So I shall weave in earnest, And leave to Him the rest. Not ’til the loom is silent And the shuttles cease to fly, Shall God unroll the canvas, And explain the reason why. The dark threads are as needed, In the Weaver’s skillful hand, As the threads of gold and silver, In the pattern, He has planned.” Romans 12:2 - God’s “…perfect will.”