How to get "There" from "Here"
A Sermon by Roosevelt Wright, Jr.
For the Tabernacle Baptist Church
Monroe, La.
October 12, 1997
SCRIPTURE: "And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them. Isaiah 42:16; Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." -John 14:6.
Introduction
Have you ever asked directions? Were you able to under stand them clearly? When you followed them, did they get you where you wanted to go? Often those who are new to an area are dependent upon others for direction. Many have stopped people on street corners and asked directions only to hear the response, "I'm new here myself!" Sometimes we are surprised when we learn that some people who have lived in a city many years, don't know the directions to some of the city's best known land marks or civic attractions. With surprise, sometimes we ask, "How could they live in a city and not know this place?" As frustrating as it is to find people who give us dumb looks and raised shoulders when we ask directions, it is equally frustrating when we receive directions but they are so complicated that they are hard to follow. What we ask is a simple question, but too often we get complications rather than a simple answer.
Consider the weary traveler who sought directions to a certain address by stopping a pedestrian on the street. Considering the address, the pedestrian said, "That's on the other side of town." When asked how to get there the pedestrian rattled off an array of alternatives. "When I leave home I take the interstate and then the 5th Street exit." Then he scratched his head. However, when I leave work I can get there by taking the by pass road and come to it straight down the lane." Before the traveler could say anything else he gave yet another alternative. "When I leave my mother's house, I take the freeway. It's a straight shot, just one turn." The traveler interrupted and said "But how do I get there from here?" The pedestrian scratched his head, "From here? I'm sorry, but I don't have the slightest idea!" There are many today who give life directions from their own perspective. The best directions usually come from persons who are familiar with where you are and know where you are trying to go.
There are many who are trying to find the way to a Godly life. They are reading life's street signs, but have no idea which way to go. Many have decided to simply drive through life, hoping they will stumble upon the Godly life. Some have asked directions from those who have steered them in circles and left them confused. Some have stopped looking altogether.
As Christians, we rejoice that we have found the directions to heaven. Jesus, who has been there and lived here, has shown us the way. With Christ as our guide we know exactly how to get there from here. That's why we follow him and take no chance of getting lost.
Exposition
This text focuses on Isaiah's predictions that God would show those who are lost a new way of life as their God.
Isaiah spent the bulk of his life trying to give direction to Judah. Judah on the other hand spent most of its national life taking directions from sources foreign to the true God. As the armies of Babylon approached Judah, there were many that directed its leadership to forge alliances with neighboring nations such as Egypt. It was thought that such alliances with mighty nations would prevent Judah's defeat and subjugation by an invading power. However Judah, like Israel, took directions from other sources. The nation was defeated and the people became the wards of Babylon. God's judgment upon the nation for taking wrong directions is the subject of chapters 1-39.
Chapters 40-66 focus on how God will deliver the people and ultimately show them the way out of their estranged and exiled condition.
In captivity, Isaiah prophesied about the day when God would restore the believers. In the 42nd chapter Isaiah words addressed both Judah's state of affairs and that of believers in the future. So though his words are immediately addressed to the lost house of Judah, struggling to find its way back into the graces of God, they are also addressed to people in future times who are similarly looking for direction.
Verse 16 is a one verse passage that makes a prediction of hope.
Speaking directly to Judah and also to those in future years, God makes three promises to those that truly want directions for restoration:
I WILL BRING THE BLIND BY A WAY THEY KNEW NOT. Judah is described as a blind nation, stumbling along trying to find its way. God promises to show those who will follow him, how to get where they are trying to go, by a way that has been untried or unfamiliar to them. Judah had tried political alliances, military strength, diplomacy and many other ways. Yet God to show them a way "they knew not."
I WILL LEAD THEM IN PATHS THAT THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN. Not only does God promise to show the blind the way to go but he promises to lead them in unfamiliar territory. For Judah, the path they sought was to return to Jerusalem. They sought a restoration of the city. For others the path is to return to close relationship with God that leads to eternal life.
I WILL MAKE THE DARKNESS LIGHT BEFORE THEM: Captivity in Babylon was darkness. They could not enjoy their homeland. They had hung their harps on the willows and could not even sing Zion's songs in a strange land. Their worship life had disappeared. Their faith became weak. They were burdened. Yet God promises to turn their darkness into light. He promises to bring them into a more illuminating circumstance.
CROOKED PLACES STRAIGHT: The evil act of military exile which stripped the people of their native culture and the economic rape of their homeland was seen as crookedness. The people were given hope that God would straighten out the crooked state of affairs that afflicted them by making the "crooked places straight."
In these four ways God resolved to show his people the way to a better life from their present condition of exile through their return to Jerusalem. Faith in God was the signpost that show the way in Isaiah's time.
However, Jesus is the final signpost for the believers looking for the way. He announced to all that followed him that he is the way. God will do for every person that believes what he promised in Isaiah. He will make a way, lead us in the path, turn darkness to light and straighten out crookedness if we will simply believe on him. No man can find the way to heaven except first he accepts Christ and let him show him how to get there from here!
How To Get There
Today, there are millions who are looking for simple but realistic directions to get to heaven. The way is not complicated. We can get there from whereever we happen to be, if we follow the following for steps:
GO TO THE NEAREST STOP SIGN: The first step in getting to heaven is to simply stop doing wrong. There is no gradual withdrawal or extended withdrawal plan. One must stop immediately. There is no doubt the way to salvation requires repentance. Luke 13:5 puts it this way, " I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." Repentance means to stop doing anything that you know to be displeasing to God. It may involve sex or stealing, or lying or self destruction or any act that displeases God. The first step to get there from here is to go to the nearest stop sign and repent.
TURN RIGHT: After we stop participating in sinful activity, we must turn from our evil ways. Listen to Zechariah 1:4 "...Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings..." To turn from evil activity means to have a change of heart and desire. It is not merely refraining from certain activities but retuning the heart in such a way that we have no desire to do the evil deeds in the future. Joel 2:12-13 says, "Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness.."
GO STRAIGHT: The man or woman that walks the path to heaven walks straight. Crooked practices are abandoned. If it's not right, count me out. If it's not straight it can wait! Jesus encourages every believer to be willing to walk the narrow path through the straight gate, even though the number of travelers are few. Matthew 7:14 "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
The straight path is free from addictions.
The straight path is free from alcoholism.
The straight path is free from drug abuse.
The straight path is free from nicotine controlled lives.
Those who walk the straight path are certain to make it to the kingdom of heaven.
Look For the Cross
Finally, brothers and sisters, to avoid getting lost, those who give good directions usually include landmarks in their directions. Even though we may be given a list of directions that tell us to turn here and exit there, the inclusion of a landmark lets us know that we are traveling in the right direction.
Those who are trying to find their way to heaven should look for the land mark.
This land mark is not a store at the turn of the bend or a large Oak tree at the end of the road.
This land mark is not a certain billboard or flashing light at an intersection.Those who want to make it to heaven should, go to the nearest stop sign, turn right, and walk straight until they see the cross on the hill!
When the weary traveler sees the little cross on the hill, he knows that he is traveling in the right direction!
When a depressed soul, sinks into a sea of depression, he is revived when he sees the little cross on the hill, he tries to hold on little while longer, because God can lift a bowed down head!
I'm reminded of the two little children who rode a school bus to school everyday in the big city. They lived next door to a big church in a crowded neighborhood. The mother worried that one day something might go wrong and they might get lost. She wrote down their address and directions and gave it to each child with the instructions, "If you get lost, show this to some adult." After several weeks, the unthinkable happened. Somehow the children were put off the bus in the wrong neighborhood. Things were worse when they realized that they did not have the slip of paper with their address and directions. As the little boy began to cry the little girl got a sudden burst of inspiration. She grabbed her little brother by the hand and bravely walked several miles through city streets, turning corners with deliberateness. When she finally made it home, her mother was nearly out of her mind. "How did you find your way back?" She asked. The little girl said, "We live next to this big church with that great big cross on the top. I just walked toward the cross and made it home!"
When you are lost in this world, keep your eyes on the cross!
When trouble comes your way, keep your eyes on the cross!
When you don't know which way to go, keep your eyes on the cross!
When you can't tell your left from you right, keep your eyes on the cross!
That's why David declared, "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help, my help cometh from the Lord who made the heaven and the earth!"
There is power in the cross!
There is salvation in the cross!
There is redemption in the cross!
No wonder the song writer declared: "At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light and the burdens of my heart roll away! It was there by faith I received my sight and now I'm happy all the way!"
It was on the cross that, Jesus died for my sins!
It was on the cross that He paid the price of my salvation!
I'm so glad that carried the cross for me!
If you want to know how to get to heaven, you must be willing to follow the trail of the cross!
Follow that trail to a night of prayer in Gethsemene!
Follow that trail to a hill called Calvary!
Follow that trail to a cold and lonely tomb!
But don't stop there, follow that trail for three more days and you find the way to heaven, because Early Sunday morning he arose from the grave!
Follow Jesus! Take no chance in getting lost!
I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back!
