Road Signs For Life  

 

Proverbs 2:9-9

This first slide is a map of the land of Israel.  It is not really a road map but it does let you have the idea of the purpose of a map.  Modern maps are great tools when traveling to new places

The same can be said for our entire life! God has given us a practical life map to live our lives for Him. He’s pointed to our final destination. The Bible tells us which roads we should travel. It explains everything we need to know for this trip through life on our way to heaven.

But just knowing the direction, the highways is not enough. We need some road signs to help us make sure we are headed in the right direction.

Another way to say this is – sometimes we need to now “what now?” What do I do when I don’t know what to do? Where do I turn when I don’t know when direction to go?

Have you ever been that frustrated? You just didn’t know what to do or which way to turn?

In the end the problem was that you were not reading the road signs. God posts them along our way – but we have to pay attention.

Today we want to discover together six road signs for life; six specific signs that, if you follow them, will guide you in the right direction – always. This a 100% guarantee. If you answer these questions and follow God’s direction you will be assured of the right answer.

How do I know? Because God’s Word guarantees it!

Proverbs 2:9 promises: “you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will know how to find the right course of action every time.”

Did you catch that? “you will know how to find the right course of action every time.”

If you want to make sure you are always going in the right direction, if you want to make sure your decisions are always the best, then follow these six road signs.

The first road sign for life is what we will call

THE DIRECTIONAL SIGN.

You’ve got to be willing to follow the directions and God’s Word, the Bible gives all the direction you need!

The first question you need to ask yourself is what does the Bible say?

What does the Bible say about my problem, my decision, the choice I need to make?

Does what I am about to do fit into what the Bible says I should do?

Is this the direction the Bible says I should go?

Often the answer to that question is pretty obvious. There are some definite things the Bible tells us we SHOULD NOT DO. Those are called sin. And remember, sin is best defined as anything that will hurt you or someone else. If the Bible says no – they I shouldn’t.

On the other hand, there are some definite things the Bible tells us we SHOULD DO. The Bible tells me to be kind. The Bible tells me to be honest. The Bible tells me to give to God what belongs to Him.

If the Bible tells me I should go in a certain direction, then I’d better follow that direction. Why, because God already knows where my choices will lead me. He already knows what’s going to happen next. His Word tells me what to stay away from and what to get involved with.

The Bible is God’s direction book, God’s map for our lives. The more we understand it, the more we follow it, the more our lives will “work”.

There’s actually a whole chapter in the Bible that deals specifically with following God’s direction. It’s no accident that it’s the longest chapter in the Bible: Psalm 119. Listen to some of its advice:

Verse 105 – Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. God’s Word will give us light when the decision seeks unclear.

Verse 26 – I told you my plans, and you answered. Now teach me your principles. We may tell God our plans, but He wants us to listen to His principles

Verse 32 – I will run to follow your commands.

Verse 35 – Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found. We are happiest when we follow God’s commands.

Verse 45 – I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments. Living by God’s commands brings freedom.

Verse 60 – I will hurry, without lingering, to obey your commands. We should not hesitate to follow God’s commands.

Verse 101 – I have refused to walk on any path of evil, that I may remain obedient to your word. We should refuse to walk any direction other than where God’s Word points.

Verse 133 – Guide my steps by your word, so I will not be overcome by any evil. God’s Word will guide our steps if we listen to and obey it.

Every verse in Psalm 115, except two, deals specifically with following God’s directions.

Here’s the point: if you are unwilling to follow God’s Word as the starting point, you may as well forget the rest of the signs. The road signs will mean nothing if you are going the wrong direction down the road.

Road sign 2 – Directional – you have to follow God’s directions.

Question: What does the Bible say about my direction, my decision?

The second road sign for life is what we will call

THE KEEP RIGHT SIGN. – Honesty, Integrity

Is my choice honest? Would I want others to know that I am going down this path? Another word for honesty is integrity. If you are heading down a path and you are worried what others might think if they ever found out – you’re probably heading in the wrong direction.

Proverbs 10:9-10 tell us, “People with integrity have firm footing, but those who follow crooked paths will slip and fall. People who wink at wrong cause trouble”

James 4:17 says, “it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.”

The honesty sign asked the question: “Does my public life and my private life match?” Am I walking on the right side of the road?

Somehow we actually think we can make dishonest choices and get away with it. We believe we can plant seeds of sin today and not have to worry about them tomorrow. Much like the guy without the parachute we talked about a few weeks ago, we assume since the fall feels good there will not be that sudden stop!

Galatians 6:7 warns us: “Don’t be misled. Remember that you can’t ignore God and get away with it. You will always reap what you sow!” You may decide not to be honest, but you can’t drive on the wrong side of the road without eventually getting hit!

I know what you’re thinking right now, “But Pastor Paul, sometimes the choice isn’t that clear. Sometimes some people will think it’s ok and others will not like my choice. What then?

Well, Romans chapter fourteen gives some direction for that problem as well: “But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong” and it’s wrong “if it makes another person stumble”. Some things just aren’t worth doing. If I feel its wrong I should avoid it. And I should definitely avoid it if it’s going to hurt someone else (but we’ll get to that later).

Road sign #2 – Honesty – you have to stay on the right side of the road.

Question: Would I want everyone to know that I’ve made this choice? Is it honest?

The third road sign for life is

THE CONSTRUCTION SIGN.

Will this decision, will this direction build me up or tear me down? Will it make me a better person?

I’ve talked to a lot of people over the past few months as we have started Family Fellowship. I’ve had the privilege of getting to know most of you. And the one thing that just about everyone has said to me is, “Pastor Paul, I really want to be a better person.”

I know what you are trying to say. You want God to do a work in you. You want Him to free you from the habits, addictions, the problems you are facing. You want Jesus to feel closer and have a greater part of your daily life. You want Him to make you a better person!

Well, this road sign asks that question! While you are asking God to make you a better person, are you asking yourself that same question? Are you asking yourself if the decisions you are making actually benefit you? Will that decision, will that direction help get you to where you want to be next?

Will that decision really improve your life?

1 Corinthians 10:23 says, “Everything is permissible”—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible”—but not everything is constructive.”

Now think for a minute as we close the message for today: how many decisions did you make this week based on the “construction sign”? How many decisions did you make when you actually stopped and asked, “Is this really the best thing for me, for my family, for my testimony to others?”

You see, we often choose the good and lose out on the best. This road sign does not ask what is good to do; there are lots of good things we can do.

This sign helps point us in the direction of what is best!

What good things are you doing that are keeping you from doing what is best? Lot’s of things in life are “OK”, but are they best?

Life is far too short to waste on good things when you could be enjoying the very best!

The decisions we make should be based on how they will help us grow.

Road sign #3 – Construction – it needs to build you up not tear you down.

Question: Will this decision make me a better person?

The other side to this construction sign is also encouraging – it says we are “under construction”! God isn’t finished with us yet!

I used to have a little pin with these initials on it:

“P B P G I N F W M Y”

“Please Be Patient God Is Not Finished With Me Yet!”

You have gotten to this point in your life and you are pretty discouraged.

You haven’t always made the best decisions. As a matter of fact, you would probably say that you’ve made some pretty bad decisions!

You haven’t followed the directional sign – you haven’t listened much to what God has been telling you in His Word – and you feel lost.

You haven’t always traveled on the right side of the road – you’ve made some decisions that you’re not to proud of.

You’ve made decisions that have torn your life down instead of building you up.

Here’s the good news – God hasn’t given up on you! He’s not finished with you yet. He’s simply waiting for you to come to him and left Him in the driver’s seat!

I like the way Eugene Paterson’s The Message paraphrases Jesus’ words in Matthew eleven:

“Are you tired? Worn out?…Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it…I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

God is not finished with you yet. He has the power to set you back on course and lead you to where He designed you to live!

The first three road signs: the directional sign, the honestly sign, the construction sign

Does my decision fit what the Bible tells me I should do?

Is my decision honest?

Will this decision build me up or tear me down?

#4  THE NO EXIT SIGN

This sign asks the question, “Is there a way out?” If I follow this direction is there a way out? Will this decision put me into a position where I’m bound?

Some things seem very attractive, harmless at first – but very quickly instead of us controlling them, they control us!

1 Corinthians 6:12 tells us, “Even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything.”

Will what I am about to do become addicting? Will it control my life?

It doesn’t matter if it’s “acceptable” for others. It doesn’t matter if it’s popular. If it’s addicting, if it’s controlling the Bible says I must not become a slave to anything.”

You know the very first command in the ten commandments says, “Do not worship any other gods besides me”. He set this as the first commandment because He knew how easy it would be for us to make other gods. He knew how quickly we would become addicted to our idols!

You know idols don’t have to be made of stone or wood – an idol can be anything that gets in the way of our relationship to God. And it’s those things that control us.

I’m told there are over 2000 classified addictions. You can get addicted to almost anything.

For me addiction came in a clear sixteen ounce bottle called “Diet Dr. Pepper”. I would slow down when I passed a “Pepper” billboard. I would look for the “Pepper” ads in the paper. I couldn’t get through the day without my “Pepper”. I mean, “Wouldn’t you like to be a Pepper too?” Seriously, it doesn’t matter what the addiction – it becomes an idol and often its worshipped, treasured, thought about more than your relationship to Jesus Christ.

The point: you always need to ask the question, where will this decision take me? Will it hold me in chains? Will it hold me in bondage?

The Bible tells us we can do anything we want if the Bible doesn’t say we can’t – but frankly, some things are too easy to get addicted to – so don’t!

Road sign #4 – No Exit – Is this something that will keep me in chains.

Question: Could this decision lead to addiction?

Now let’s look at the fifth road sign for life:

THE SIGHT SEEING SIGN

This sign asks the question – what will others do when they see me? Will what I’m doing hurt someone else?

You see, whether you like it or not, people are watching you.

You spouse is watching you. Your kids are watching you. Your neighbors, relatives, friends are all watching you. People you don’t even know are watching you. And they often make decisions in their own lives based on what they see you doing?

You don’t believe me?

When was the last time you either heard or used one of these phrases:

“But everyone is doing it?”

“Don’t worry, everyone does that?”

“This product is the most popular…”

And those are only three!

It also gets more specific. People are looking at you and making decisions about what is right and wrong for a Believer to do!

We don’t realize that our decisions can have devastating consequences on others.

Romans chapter fourteen tells us, “each of us will have to give a personal account to God…Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not put an obstacle in another Christian’s path.” (Romans 14:12-13)

There is no such thing as “it’s my life”. Our life affects others and the “sight seeing” sign points us in the direction that says it really does matter to others how I live.

I realized this early on in my life.

Bruce Thompson, called in Port St. Lucie

You are one of the reasons.

Todd Smith

You are one of the reasons

I have also seen other’s lives who were an example to me..some are still living for God…Kevin McGee, Mark Thompson……Joe Thompson lost today.

Who’s watching you? Don’t be so quick to answer that question. You really don’t know.

But people are and the “sight seeing sign” points you down the road that says – I really will live for others!

I remember the words of the Apostle Paul, twice he wrote “follow my example”. He had the audacity, the boldness, the courage to tell people to follow his example, why, because he was following Christ’s.

“So I ask you to follow my example and do as I do.” (1 Corinthians 4:16) And you should follow my example, just as I follow Christ’s. (1 Corinthians 11:1)

That’s confidence in the “sight seeing sign”.

You can’t just live your life for yourself. You have to remember that others are watching you!

Road sign #5 – Sight Seeing – Who’s watching me?

Question: How will my decision affect others?

Now let’s look at the sixth road sign for life:

THE PAYDAY SIGN

How will this decision make a different in eternity? Is this the best use of my life? What’s the payoff?

You see everything we do eventually pays off. We quoted it last week, “You will always reap what you sow!” (Galatians 6:7)

Sin pays off, it leads to death. Romans tells us “When people sin, they earn what sin pays—death.” (Romans 6:23a) Sin leads to separation. Sin kills our relationship to God.

That’s why we need God’s forgiveness for our sins. “But God gives us a free gift—life forever in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23b)

Sin pays what we don’t want to earn.

But living for God also pays! Ephesians 6:8 tells us, “The Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do.” And Hebrews 11:6 says, “Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.”

The payday sign asks the question, is this the best way to invest my life for eternity?

“So be very careful how you live. Do not live like those who are not wise, but live wisely. Use every chance you have for doing good, because these are evil times. So do not be foolish but learn what the Lord wants you to do.” (Ephesians 5:15-17)

We’ve said it before: this life is simply preparation for eternity. How we live now makes all the difference in how we are blessed, rewarded in eternity. And never forget that God always blesses your faithfulness!

The payday sign asks, “Is this the best use of my time when I consider all of time? How will what I am about to do effect my life tomorrow, next year and for eternity.”

We all have the same amount of time. We all have only 168 hours in our week, 1080 minutes, 604,800 seconds. The difference between success and failure in this life is how we invest those moments and who we invest those moments in!

And you will never really invest your time, your life until you come to grips with what God has placed you here on this earth for. He desires you to live a life that reflects His love, His goodness and His power!

You don’t have time for everything, but the good news is you don’t have to do everything. You only have to do what God has called you to do.

In the coming weeks we are going to offer you opportunities to discover your life mission. You will begin to discover just why God has you here. You will begin to understand just how God has shaped you to have a significant impact on your world! And you will have all the time in the world to accomplish that mission – if you learn to follow the payday sign! Learn to invest your time and life for eternity!

Six Road Signs For Life.

(1) The Directional Sign – where does the Bible tell me to do?

(2) The Keep Right Sign – Honesty, Integrity – Is this the right thing to do?

(3) The Construction Sign – will it build you up?

(4) The No Exit Sign – Will this trap me and hold me in bondage?

(5) The Sight Seeing Sign – How will this effect others who are watching me?

(6) The Pay Day Sign – Is this a good investment for eternity?

You follow this six signs and where they point and you will be guaranteed a life that stays on course!