Where Do I Go?

I can remember being in several strange cities, at night.

A. There was but one question in my mind....”Where

do I go from here”.

1. I realized that there really was a way....a road

that would lead me out of my puzzle...but

which one?

a. I can remember driving around southwest

Tulsa....just trying to get to the

Cimmaron Turnpike.

1.) We asked for directions, but we

were given bad ones.

2.) It felt like hours until we got out

of there.

a.) Pretty much it was by blunder-

ing around.....trying this road...

trying that road.

b.) Oh, how much better, if we

knew the way......if we had

a map, or a guide who knew

how to direct us properly.

Sometimes we get lost in our Christian walk.

A. We might doubt if we are really on the right road...

people have confused us and snatched our

confidence from us.

B. We might be ready to give up because the journey

is so long and we haven’t reached the goal yet.

1. Perhaps it’s dark and it’s cold out there and

we are tired..........when can we rest....when

will it get better?

C. What is the meaning of all this.....so long traveling

and yet, what have I really accomplished?

These thoughts can tear down.....they can destroy and

sidetrack a Christian in his/her walk.

A. Even though we may know the answers to these

questions and thoughts, the overwhelming

pressure that we feel......at these times, may

befuddle the mind.

1. satan is there......you can be sure.....to take

advantage of our doubts and fears.

God’s Word......as in everything else......has the answers.

A. Sometimes they seem too simplistic.

1. The right path is not complicated.....it is

simple.........not easy......but simple.

a. It saves us so much frustration and

goes so far to take away the feeling of

hopelessness and helplessness......WE

MUST LISTEN.

I. We set goals for ourselves.......this is good, but

sometimes we become so busy with and working

towards our life’s goals, ........we leave out the most

important element.

A. If God is not in our lives, our goals are only

temporal and inferior........our plans do not take

God and His will into account.

Psalm 127:1-2 - 1 Unless the Lord builds the house, They

labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city,

The watchman stays awake in vain.2 It is vain for you to

rise up early, To sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows...

His be

Luke 12:16-21 - 16Then He spoke a parable to them,

saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded

plentifully. 17“And he thought within himself, saying,

‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’

18“So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns

and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my

goods. 19‘And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many

goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink,

and be merry.” ’ 20“But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night

your soul will be required of you; then whose will those

things be which you have provided?’ 21“So is he who lays

up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

Eccl. 12:13-14 - 13Let us hear the conclusion of the

whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For

this is man’s all.14 For God will bring every work into

judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or

evil.

1. If God is not working in and included in our

short term and long term goals.....we will be

building on shifting sand.

a. Men’s plans can change and be changed.

1.) There are too many variables...to

many things that are beyond the

control of man.

a.) Our health.

b.) Other peoples actions (or

inactions).

c.) The economy.

d.) The changing face of society.

e.) Weaknesses......ours and

other’s.

b. God knows all of these things and works

them into our plans.

1.) There is nothing that God has not

made provisions for.

a.) If we decide to go forward

with what appears to be the

“best plan”.....and leave God

out of the picture and out of

the planning, we leave out

many of the important factors

that come with God.

II. Related, but not especially the same.....DRAW NEAR

TO GOD.

A. There are multiple ways of drawing near to God...

all of these avenues need to be explored.

I Thess. 5:16-22 - 16Rejoice always, 17pray without

ceasing, 18in everything give thanks; for this is the will of

God in Christ Jesus for you. 19Do not quench the Spirit.

20Do not despise prophecies. 21Test all things; hold fast

what is good. 22Abstain from every form of evil.

1. We need to acknowledge what the Lord

has done in our life and REJOICE!