Hubby and I recently received a very special envelope in the mail – with letters from each of our precious little friends up in Alaska.
N. drew us this picture of his Jellyfish tower-light which we sent him for his birthday. He let us know that he loves it!! He said that sometimes he goes to sleep at night with it on. (the bobbing plastic jellyfish glow in the dark) He said it’s perfect because in Alaska it’s really dark in the winter.
I was delighted! I love the jellyfish drawing!
M. drew us this very special map. Isn’t it great!
He also included a “Legend” so we would know how to read the map.
Yesterday’s blog post was about “navigating life” and taking time to study “life’s map.”
Where am I going in life??
Am I on the right “path” in life?
Are there challenges up ahead on this path which will cause me difficulties?
Should I find a “back road” way to go instead, which will still get me to my “end destination”?
As I mentioned yesterday, one of mine and hubby’s “end destinations” was that of raising and launching our kids into the world as responsible adults.
Another “end destination” for many people is to be able to travel. Or perhaps to achieve a certain career goal. For most people, an “end destination” is to be able to retire.
But once we “navigate” life … once we’ve successfully raised and launched our kids into the world as responsible adults … once we’ve been able to travel a bit … once we’ve achieved the career goal … once we’ve retired … then what??
Once we reach the end of our life’s journey, is that all there is??
Deep down inside every person we don’t want to die. Something deep down inside each of us wants to live forever. That’s because we were created by God specifically to live forever.
Then why is there death??
Why don’t we live forever??
The thing is … we each will indeed live forever. Once our life in this body here on this earth reaches its end, our body and our soul separate.
Our body returns to dust. Our soul will either go to Heaven to be in the most amazing paradise ever with God, we will be given a brand-new perfect body, and we will live forever; or our soul will go to Hell where we will suffer punishment forever.
That’s a drastic difference!! How do we make sure we get to life-forever in Heaven and not Hell?!?
God has given us a very special map to show us the way. God’s very special “map” which he has given to show us the way to life-forever in Heaven – it’s the Bible.
Just like there are swamps marked on the very special map M. drew for us … so also, God’s “map” – the Bible – clearly indicates the “swamps” of sin which could suck us in and keep us trapped. Obviously, we don’t want to get “bogged down” and stuck in the “swamps” of sin. We need to know where they are so we can avoid them. God’s “map” shows us!
Just like there are deserts marked on the very special map M. drew for us … so also, God’s “map” lets us know there will be deserts we have to cross as we navigate the journey to life-forever in Heaven.
The road on the very special map M. drew for us goes through the “Great Forest.” As we study the map, we can see that even though the road goes through the dense, endless “Great Forest” there is a lake of refreshing along the way.
We can see, on the special map from M, that we want to avoid the “Wild Islands of the North.” There are mountains, forests, and abandoned towers. Doesn’t look like a wise place for us to be looking around.
At the far-right side of the map, we can see the “Castle of the King.” The road, leading across the map, goes straight to the “Castle of the King.”
You might have noticed “Danger Island” at the bottom of the map. Obviously, we want to avoid “Danger Island”! On the map we can see there are deadly geysers and volcanoes. In much the same way, God’s “map” – the Bible – clearly warns of the deadly “geysers” and “volcanoes” of sin which will utterly destroy our life … obviously we want to avoid “Danger Island” as we journey to life-forever in Heaven.
Thankfully we can see on M’s map there is the “Southern Barrier Mountains” as a wall of protection. So also, in much the same way, God has set up “Barrier Mountains” to help guard and protect us from the devastating dangers of sin & Satan.
But we must stay on the road which leads to the “Castle of the King.” The only way to get to “Danger Island” is by leaving the road which leads to the “Castle of the King” … and heading off in the wrong direction on a side road. Not only that, in order to get to “Danger Island” it requires sailing across waters we should not be sailing across … and then, scaling the “Barrier Mountains” which we know we should not be climbing over.
Likewise, God’s “map” – the Bible – indicates the “Wild Islands of the North.” These are also places which are accessed only by leaving the road which leads to the “Castle of the King.” And just like “Danger Island” these “Wild Islands of the North” are unsafe and unwise places for us to be wandering around. God’s “map” lets us know about them so we can avoid them!
So how do we stay on the road which leads to the “Castle of the King”?? How do we get to life-forever in Heaven??
According to God’s “map” … the “road” which leads to the “Castle of the King” is Jesus Christ. Jesus is the one and the only way to life-forever in Heaven.
John 20:31 says: “These things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
Acts 4:12 reiterates that Jesus is the “road” which leads to Heaven: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
Perhaps you don’t know anything about Jesus. Maybe you are asking: “Who is Jesus??” You can learn all about who Jesus is by reading, in the Bible, the books of “Matthew” … “Mark” … “Luke” … and “John.” These four books are biographies of the life of Jesus while he was on the earth. In these books you can learn all about who Jesus is, and how Jesus is the way to life-forever in Heaven.
God has given us a very special map! This “map” is the Bible … and it shows us the way to life-forever in Heaven!
