Are you on Track?

I once read a story in my local newspaper of a mother and teen daughter who got themselves into a very awkward situation. They were hiking at a place called the Pinnacles and decided to go off track to explore. They made it about 60 metres before they got trapped on a rocky ledge above a sheer cliff. The Rescue helicopter had to come and rescue them.

The newspaper article was called “Detour off track sheer stupidity.”

Somebody who saw what happened told the newspaper, “It's beyond me that anyone could be so stupid and get themselves in that position.”

Somebody else said, “I think it was one of those things that seemed like a good idea at the time.”

Getting off track got them into a lot of trouble, and they could have gotten really hurt.

Walking tracks are built for a reason. But you have to choose to stick to them.

I was listening to a preacher preach a sermon on how people are like sheep. Sheep also like to wander off track. A few times during the sermon he asked, “What are sheep?” The audience answered, “Sheep are dumb.” Then the preacher asked again, “What are we?” The audience answered, “Sheep!” “What are sheep??!!” “Sheep are dumb!”

The Bible says

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6

God is not talking about going off track on a walking path here, but about going our own way in life--doing what we think is right. Doing things our own way. Wanting to live “our own life.”

I was having a discussion with a guy from Israel once. His name was Judas!:) He said he believed in God, but he wanted to do it his own way. At breakfast time the next morning (This guy was having breakfast with us), Dad was reading the Bible and he must have read Isaiah 53 because I pricked up my ears when I heard, we have turned every one to his own way. I really hoped Judas was listening! Because his own way will not get him to Heaven.

When we live life in touch with God, asking him for direction and obeying His Word, we are on track. When we start to neglect our Bibles, forget to pray or deliberately do what we know is wrong we are like the woman and her daughter who went off the walking track. We are 'exploring' on dangerous ground and we'll end up in trouble sooner or later. Thankfully there is a “Rescue.” Psalms 50:15 says “And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.”

Although going our own way is 'sheer stupidity' and we get ourselves into unnecessary trouble, God is amazingly kind to help us when we call to Him. That is, if we do it before death. Once our time is up, it is... too late.

Where are you right now?

Are you on track?

Have you come to God His way, through Jesus Christ?

Are you listening to God and living life His way?

Or are you off track?

Exploring sin?

Doing something that seems like a good idea right now but will bring trouble later?

Are you detouring off God's track? That's sheer stupidity!

“Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.” Proverbs 4:27