Have you ever wished you could see into the future and know every significant detail of the rest of your life’s journey? Wouldn’t that knowledge make things easier? It’s evident that many people think it would. For that reason, many look to astrology, one of the ancient methods of predicting the future, which continues to be a popular resource for looking ahead.
Both biblical and secular history has proven that reliance on astrology for guidance can be extremely addictive and dangerous. Such reliance on mostly human and often misleading false predictions can easily take control of our mind and planning. More importantly, it weakens our ability to make intelligent, rational choices that are undergirded by Godly wisdom and trusting faith in his purposes for us.
In any looking ahead and planning, we usually do not anticipate storms. But the reality is that storms, both in weather and life experience, frequently terrorize our beautiful and comfortable world, upsetting our plans and hopes, and causing us major disruption and loss. Storms often create life-threatening situations and challenge our survival. All storms amplify our human limitations and need for God’s help.
I remember a weather storm experience while traveling the Ohio Turnpike into Indiana. It had been raining fairly heavy but as we crossed the state line from Ohio to Indiana, the rain and wind picked up speed suddenly and dramatically, making it extremely difficult to see ahead even with the wipers at full speed. Some vehicles were pulling off the road as best they could, but I thought that decision to be more dangerous than to keep moving forward on the roadway. And so, at much slower speed and with eyes intensely focused ahead I kept driving forward through the storm until it had passed and the sun glistened on the wet farmlands.
Driving through a rain or snow storm is no leisurely sightseeing tour of the countryside. It is an intense, serious concentration on the road directly ahead, searching out it twists and turns, and looking to avoid any hazards or obstacles that could bring our forward progress to an end in wreckage.
The same is true in our spiritual journey. We need to always keep our eyes clearly focused and our ears keenly attuned to God’s presence, who is both out ahead of us preparing the way for our safe travel and also by our side giving direction. This is especially critical when we are experiencing one of life’s inevitable storms.
I think we prepare for this by giving serious, careful, and daily attention to God’s Word and God’s Spirit in our entire life journey of relationships, discussions and decision-making. God spoke this word of authority and promise through the prophet Isaiah (48:17) – This is what the Lord says – your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.”
I think this biblical model of living by faith and trusting God is much like driving a car at night. You can see only as far ahead as the headlights shine, and yet you are able to reach your destination by continuing to travel the short distance the headlights make visible.
When we make plans to travel any lengthy distance at night, we don’t insist in seeing all the things that may disrupt, delay, or detour our travel before we begin. We simply set out trusting our headlights to make visible any problems that lie ahead in time for us to make appropriate response.
So it is with Christian living. We live each day trusting God to reveal enough of his plan and path for us to make appropriate decisions. God has promised, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” (Psalm 32:8).
We live and walk by faith, not needing to see the whole trip, but trusting God to lead us moment by moment. God used a blind person, Helen Keller, to put this truth into a song for us.
All the way my Savior leads me; What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy, Who thro’ life has been my Guide?
Heave’nly peace, divinest comfort, Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, what-e’er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well.
All the way my Savior leads me; Cheers each winding path I tread,
Gives me grace for ev’ry trial, Feeds me with the living bread.
Tho’ my weary steps may falter, And my soul a-thirst may be,
Gushing from the Rock before me, Lo! A spring of joy I see.
“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – January 15, 2020
Ray M. Geigley
Healing Rays of Righteousness 
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