GPS

"Your choices aren’t stronger than my purposes."
--God, The Shack

My career requires a fair amount of travel. So until I came into possession of a navigational system, I was obliged to depend on printed maps from various web databases. Often, I would find myself off track and have to stop and ask directions of locals. Most were clueless as to how to help me home. It was then that I learned the major roadway systems and became a scholar of geography. Yet, my father’s increasing concern for my well being led to the capture of a GPS that I’ve come to know affectionately as “Tom.”

My new traveling companion has been such a blessing. Not only has he spared the life of an unsuspecting tree, he is constantly reminding me of God’s presence in my life. How? At the risk of explaining the unnecessary, the way a GPS is by first entering in the destination. Then it assesses the information and plans a route. The GPS then begins directing visually and audibly street by street, mile by mile. Interesting, it’s kind of like what God tells us in Jeremiah 29:11- I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper and not harm you… Like Tom, God knows exactly where I am going.

However, there are times in my life when I feel like Tom just doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Once, he told me to take an interstate system, when clearly the way I was going was just as accessible. What did it matter which way I went anyway? Sometimes I feel I’m the same way with God. What could He possibly know, right? He tells me to do something and I’ll do it… but only on my conditions. For example: “I won’t do it now, God, but next week definitely.” “I don’t want to help with that ministry, but I’ll serve all the time you want me to in this one.” Or my personal favorite said to others, “I’ll pray for you,” instead of, “Let me pray with you.” My constant urge to live independently of God is always getting me into trouble. My rebellious attitude toward life will almost always end in surrender to God.

Well, Tom being the intelligent one that he is (artificial as he may be) doesn’t mind that I’ve not heeded his voice. The screen on the GPS will go blank, only for a moment, and then, instantly, a new route appears starting from the road I just took. It may take a little longer to reach my destination now but I’ll get there just the same. The route I chose may even be more dangerous—roads covered in potholes and critters that jump haphazardly in front of me from nowhere. Yet, this route will still bring me to my chosen destination. This is much like how God works. I may have taken a wrong road, gotten off track, lived independently of Him for a while. During which time I’ve temporarily lost sight of where I should be going. However, He gets me right back on track and going toward the destination He’s set for my life. See the choices I make are never stronger than what He’s purposed for my life. Sometimes, by making poor decisions and taking the wrong road, God can still bless us immeasurably. This is not to say that there are not consequences to our choices. He can’t always bless stupidity. He can use our choices and redirect his blessings to benefit us or others.

Tom is also equipped to keep me out of trouble. While driving on the interstate, I spaced out and began to exceed the speed limit. Tom chimed in with a cautionary warning and my attention was once again brought to the road…and my speed. God is always providing these warnings to us. He may not have an alarm going off like Tom, but His are just as obvious. God has even gone a step further by equipping us with our own spiritual navigational system. I believe His is named the Holy Spirit. If we really think about it, we’d notice that we know when we are getting off track and not paying attention to where we are going. We may even ignore God’s warnings and choose our paths likewise. However, He is still planning and redirecting us with every misstep to get back on track.

When I think back to the ways God has used bad choices in the past, I’m reminded of just how finite my mind really is. I cannot comprehend how God can take a decision that is decidedly wretched and wrong and turn it into a necessary precursor for another proceeding. One that immediately comes to mind is Jacob and Esau’s story. Esau stupidly sells his birthright for a bowl of stew. Jacob stupidly pretends to be his brother. Yet, out of this come many blessings. The same for the poor choices made by New Testament author Paul, a murderer of Christians, this man was by no means a typical saint. However, his bad choices led to a miraculous conversion. His words still today bless Christians worldwide. While maybe not a poor decision but certainly a wild one, David chose to go before a soldier of gargantuan proportion and defeated him without armor. The Philistines certainly never expected the choice Saul made to send a boy to do a man’s job was worth a second thought. Esther’s choice to risk her life by appearing before king was certainly not viewed as a rational decision. However, God was able to work through her to save a people marked for death.

One of the ultimate bad choices came when Adam and Eve chose to live independently of God. Despite their choices, God has still been able to turn death into eternal life. This was accomplished with a bad choice that was necessary. The public let a murderer go to kill Jesus. This decision, while, yes, completely unjust made the consequences of one bad choice null and void. Despite their choices, God has still been able to use these situations for His purposes. We can never be fully aware of how God is going to turn something around. It is often we find ourselves so eager to blame God for all the turmoil and stress we experience in our lives without giving thought to what He plans to do with our stupid choices. We serve a just God. He knows we will make bad choices and, like most parents, He’s there to help us get out of our mess while guiding us back to where we need to be.