Stay the Course
I was recently in the Phoenix airport with the intentions of flying to San Antonio, TX. I had determined ahead of time that I needed to travel to San Antonio. I knew that the trip would require a sacrifice of time and money, but had concluded the sacrifice was worth it. I searched out a good price for the ticket that would gain me access on the plane. Just any old ticket would not suffice. I needed one that would specifically get me to San Antonio. There were a lot of tickets available to a lot of places set at numerous price ranges. I had to perform a careful search that narrowed all the options down to the one that would get me to the desired destination. Once I had my ticket, it was time to get going. It did me no good to get the ticket and then not use it.
Upon arriving at the airport, I had to be cleared as one who had the proper right to travel. My ticket had to be verified and my identity confirmed. There were still decisions to be made after I entered the heart of the airport. I couldn’t go down any random concourse. I had to find the right concourse and the correct gate. I was not going to get to my destination by going my own way. I had to follow the path that led to the plane that was headed to my determined endpoint. I had seemingly no limit to the options as to where I might go, but my target had been pre-set and I needed to stay focused upon that path. Many destinations caught my attention as adventurous and exciting, but I knew where I was headed and that remained my focus. I had to be disciplined to maintain my pursuit and deny anything that would take me someplace other than where I intended to go.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us that God has set eternity in the heart of man. We are created in the image of God and for the purpose of living in a perfect relationship with Him forever. Sin separated us from God, but He demonstrated His love for us by dying for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). We have been offered a ticket to spend eternity with Him. Jesus paid the price and defeated death. We have been invited into the holy of holies. There are many who have gone before us. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)
We have a destination, but we must “set our minds on things above, not things that are on earth” (Colossians 3:2). There are many distractions that appear adventurous and exciting, but they will not get you where you belong. Therefore, “In your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and respect,” (1 Peter 3:15).
Visiting the Grand Canyon with Canyon Ministries is your opportunity to see the truth of God’s Word stretch out before you. You will be reminded of the great lengths to which God has gone to protect His holiness and provide salvation to you. He established a destination for us far beyond anything we can dream or imagine!
Join us on the journey and discover God’s plan for man. Go to www.CanyonMinistries.org
Praisieallujiah!
Jon
