Choosing the right direction to move ahead in life is a challenge, we’re often put into. Turning towards wrong direction continuously will lead us into a way, where our life ends miserable. At the beginning of an academic year students are given a syllabus, which has the map to attain the slated knowledge for the year. In companies, a mission statement for the year is propagated to its employee to focus and achieve the Vision for the year. Churches across globe on the New Year service preaches the blessing of New Year, expecting believers of the church to walk on the map laid to attain the blessing of God. I didn’t understand the importance of following a map earnestly to reach the target, until I arrived at an unknown land coupled with unknown language on the eve of Christmas 2011. When I and four others reached Paris Airport, the immigration officers weren’t able to speak to us in English but somehow we managed to reply them to make our entry in France! First thing that hit our mind was, we have to reach our hotel room to unload our luggage but how can we reach as we don’t seem to find anyone around who can speak minimal English. That was the time we got into information desk and had vital advice and were given a map which clearly had the details of transport through rail/bus to travel around the city. Thinking about my journey around Paris, it was so simple as though travelling in a land which was so familiar to us. Reason, we earnestly followed a map and the advice given by the information desk personal, which took us to all the destinations we desired.

God has laid a beautiful Map for our life too; it’s our decision to follow the path given to us. It’s not always easy to follow the map laid by God for us, but if we walk as per the path drawn – joy of reaching the destination is going to be spellbound. Am always fascinated by the man of faith in Bible – Abraham, it might be that am too named after him!  This man of God had a faith like a child; when I say “Child’s faith” – a child trust’s his/her parent in all situations no matter what it may be. Even if the child is thrown on air, it keeps smiling because it knows it will be safe in the fathers arm in few seconds. Oh what a child’s faith.

In Genesis 12:1-3, “the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed”. Oh boy, Abraham was 75 years old when God asked him to depart from his father’s house and follow a newly laid map for his generation. It’s no joke to leave behind your family after being in bond with them all your life till then. See verse 4, it says, “So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran”. Verse 1-3 is the Vision of God for Abraham’s life! That’s his destination. Map was given in Abraham’s hand now he has to follow the map. Now, did God give a map in his hand and say go lead your life as per the map so that you can enter into my eternal glory one day? No, God didn’t. Rather, Lord was the map in Abraham’s life! Lord said, “I’ll shew thee where you’ve to go – just follow me. This is the expectation God has on us.

It’s time to follow the Map which is inscribed on Jesus. John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”. Jesus is the only way to Heaven. Way to the glorious destination is only one way and that is Jesus. There are numerous people in this world who mock at us who follow Jesus, oh just give praise to His name for we’re acknowledged by others that we’re indeed Christians who follow Christ the way to Heaven.

Coming back to life of Abraham, when we read Genesis 13, it speaks about how Abraham and Lot were blessed on the land where they stepped their feet. A day came, the land wasn’t able to bear both their riches, they decided to part ways. In verse 8, 9 “And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left”. It was decision time for Lot and Abraham – they need to choose the path to move forward in their life.

Lot’s decision – verse 10, “And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar”. Lot choose a land which was well to do for a real estate business! But he forgot the fact that, until now all his blessing was just due to path he was travelling (with Abraham) as per God’s map. When you read later chapters, his luxury land was destroyed by God for the ways of the people in the land were disgusting in the eyes of the Almightily God.

Abraham’s decision – verse 14, 15 “And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and lock from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever”. Oh what a blessing, Lord said – I’ll give it to your generation forever and ever, Amen!

Simple difference between both their decisions, Lot lifted up his eyes and saw the land to possess; but for Abraham, Lord said to Abraham lift up thine eye and foresee your blessing. It was God who drew the map for Abraham’s life, so Abraham knew it’s apt for God to show the blessed land for his dwelling. When makes decision in our life, there will be divine peace in  ur heart no matter how the world will look at it. For Christ Jesus only know the path in the map, which will lead us to eternal glory. How we’re going to make decision in our life? Like Abraham or Lot? Jesus is ready to hold us and lead us as per the Map to eternal glory; but it’s up to us to call on Jesus to guide on the right way. Make right decision to have a Joyful 2012.

God Bless you,

Amen

In voyage with Christ,