Guidance 3
by David Silvester
Living at Morecambe, with spectacular views and sunsets over the Lake District hills, can be somewhat deceiving. For example, standing on the promenade looking across the bay at low tide, it appears so simple to just go down onto the sand and walk across to the other side. But that is where the dangers lie.
There are regular walks across the bay with an approved guide. Cedric Robinson, the official Bay Walk Guide, has expert knowledge of hidden dangers such as quicksand and the timing of the tides. The quicksand is variable, regularly changing place, and the tides are notorious for the speed at which they can advance at certain times of the year – faster than a man can run!
The day before Cedric takes a group on this walk he will go across the bay marking out his route. Attempting to cross the bay without the guide is foolishness, and many people have lost their lives as a result.
For the Christian, the journey of life is rather like joining Cedric to make the journey across Morecambe Bay. Just as walkers need the sensitive guidance of Cedric to avoid the dangers, so we need the guidance of the Holy Spirit, who knows the pitfalls and the dangers ahead.
Some people, before walking across the bay, might say that all they need is a good map, which is like a Christian saying ‘but we have the Bible’. But when a verse of Scripture is taken out of its context, and is used to mean something that is not in line with what God’s Word is really saying, it can mislead people into a wrong understanding, and even lead into spiritual danger. This is why Paul told Timothy to, ‘correctly handle the word of truth’ (2 Timothy 2:15).
We need the revelation and guidance of the Holy Spirit as well as the written Word of God. Jesus never said that being one of His followers was going to be easy, but He did say that the way was ‘narrow’ (which can mean ‘not easy to find’), and ‘only a few find it’ (Matthew 7:14). In other words, He was saying ‘be careful to find the right path and so avoid the danger of being led in a wrong direction’.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for providing Your Holy Spirit as a safe guide to help me avoid the hidden dangers of life’s journey. Thank You too that Jesus has gone before to prepare the way, and He knows all that we might experience as we make the journey through life. Help me to keep close to my guide at all times I pray. Amen.
David Silvester is married and has a son, two daughters and eight grandchildren. He trained as a production engineer. He then moved on to become a lecturer of engineering craft skills before being called of God in his early fifties to become a pastor of a Baptist church. He says that,"having previously experienced an amazing healing on a day others expected me to die, it came as no surprise that God directed me and my wife, Margaret, to become involved with Ellel Ministries."
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