Text- Psalm 119:1 – “You're blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God.”
Have you ever read the Christian Allegory, “Pilgrim’s Progress” by John Bunyan? Or have you watched the movie adapted from it? If you have, you will notice that it is easy to get knocked off course in our spiritual life.
The determination and struggle to stay on course is what makes the journey of Pilgrim in Pilgrim’s Progress so vivid and dramatic. Pilgrim encountered all sorts of hazards, temptations and distractions on his journey. He had every reason and many ‘opportunities’ to quit, however he found the grace of God to be sufficient to enable him to stay on course and reach his final destination.
That is exactly how our lives and our journeys through this world are. We face all sorts of danger, temptations and distractions, but our minds must be made up, and our will fully resolved to stay on course no matter what.
In Luke 9:62, Jesus said to a man who intended to follow him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God”. In other words, Jesus is saying, “If you will follow me, you must make up your mind to stay on course”
Without doubts, we are saved by grace and by grace alone. However, we must understand that the Christian life is not built around just feeling good about ourselves, and avoiding guilt, all in the name of 'Grace'.
The Christian life involves a CONTINUAL, DISCIPLINED STRUGGLE against sin and a PROACTIVE EFFORT to develop the character of Jesus Christ with the help of God’s Holy Spirit. That is what staying on course entails… Anything short of this is not real Christianity.
Staying on course means that we must remain oriented to God’s way of life. This will involve making a deliberate choice to obey God come what may, and making conscious efforts to remain faithful at all times.
If we will stay on course, we must avoid compromise. Compromise ensues when we make wrong choices. Life is all about choices, and many times, choice will steer you in the face… whether to sin or not, whether to do good or evil.
You cannot avoid temptations, but you’ve got the power to make choices. Thankfully, God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
Furthermore, we must avoid complacency. Complacency arises when we stop making efforts. You see, everyone fails in one way or the other, but you must not allow your mistakes, or even your limitations to keep you from pressing on.
If you mess up along the line, be sincere enough to admit your mistake, be humble enough to repent from it, be wise enough to learn from it, and then take the steps to renew your walk with God, and STAY ON COURSE!
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, grant me the grace to stay on course. I will not fall by the way side in Jesus Name.