I must not be a very good student. Time and time again, I have to be taught a lesson that I should have already learned and put into practice. But my Teacher, my Master, keeps working with me. I thank Him for that!
My wife and I were planning a trip to visit her aunt and uncle who have a house on Claytor Lake in Pulaski County, Virginia. The quarter mile road down to their house is gravel and has several bumps, hills, sharp turns and ruts that are difficult to navigate in a car. So, we thought we might take my old 4×4 truck. I asked my mechanic, who knows my truck inside and out, if it would be okay to take it on the two-and-a-half-hour trip up Interstate 81. He said, “Oh sure, it’ll be fine.” So, we decided to take it. Then, the anxiety began to set in and that “voice”, you know which one I’m talking about, the enemy, started talking in my ear: “That truck’s not going to make it. You’re gonna break down and be stranded on the side of the road.” Blah, blah, blah. Oh no!
Well, this continued for a few days and, on the day we were to leave, I asked God to take care of that truck and us as we traveled. “Lord, be with us on this trip. Help us to arrive safely at our destination, on time and without incident and return us home the same way.” I pray this every time we go on a trip and God or His angels have been with us every time. But you know, that nagging fear was still there. Well, we head out for our destination, made it over the winding roads of Wise, Russell and Washington Counties and got on Interstate 81…with no problems. I began to feel pretty good about the trip and thanked God for His protection. Then, here comes the lesson: “Son, I want to ask you. Who are you listening to, who are you going to believe and who are you going to follow?” Oh my, it hit me! I was listening to that little demon instead of my friend and mechanic! I was listening to that lying voice instead of my God! I was allowing my fears to direct me instead of following God! OK, lesson learned.
We made it to the lake, in and out of the bad road, had a wonderful visit and boat ride and made it home, “safely, on time and without incident”. I was thanking God repeatedly and repenting for my fear. Lesson learned. But that’s not the end of the story. I teach a class at our local college and was meeting with an IT person the next day to be sure all the technology was working in the classroom. I HAD been stressed out worrying that something would go wrong, (same lying voice in my head). But this time, I remembered the lesson I had just been taught, had a peace about it and had my meeting. All the technology worked fine and actually was going to be easier than I had thought. Thank You again Lord!
Who are you going to listen to? “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (Colossians 3:2). “Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.” (Proverbs 3:6 MSG).
Who are you going to believe? “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved,” (Acts 16:31)
Who are you going to follow? “Jesus said…follow Me,” (Matthew 16:24).
What will be the result? “Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O Lord, and teach out of Your law, that You may give him rest from the days of adversity,” (Psalms 94:12-13)