WAYMAKER

Do you know where you are going? Do you know what direction you are heading? Do you think about where you are going in life or just keep plodding on regardless? Do you have a plan and what happens if your plan fails?

Have you heard the saying? ‘All roads lead somewhere’. Below is an exert from the film ‘Alice in Wonderland’.

“One day Alice came to a fork in the road and she saw a Cheshire cat in a tree.

“Which road do I take?” she asked.

“Where do you want to go?” was his response.

“I don’t know” Alice answered.

‘Then’, said the cat, ‘it doesn’t matter,’”

Because Alice did not know where she wanted to go the cat said that it didn’t matter what road she was on. Our destination is determined by what road we are travelling on now. If we want to arrive at a particular destination, we need to make sure the road we are on is going to get us there.

We are all on a journey. Each of our lives is a journey. We are born, we travel through our lives and then we die. Every person’s journey is different. How we are born is unique, how we live our lives is unique and how we die is unique. There may be similarities and we may walk similar paths to another person but each of our journeys are unique.

Before I became a Christian, I did not give much thought to what would happen to me after I died. Death was not really a subject that we would discuss at home so I never really thought about it. I think that the subject of death has become a bit of a taboo subject as we avoid it at all costs even though we will all experience it at some point in our lives.

Of course, I do not profess to know everything there is to know about what happens after we die, but as a Christian I know enough to know that I need to make sure that the life path I am on will ensure I arrive at my desired destination. As a Christian I believe that there are two possible destinations when we die. Heaven and hell.

The Bible tells us that Jesus is the way to heaven.

John 14:1-11

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.”

“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”

Philip said, “Lord show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”

Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. Just believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.”

The above passage starts with the words, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled.” The disciples must have been worried about what was going to happen so Jesus was reassuring them and telling them what they needed to do.

We now know that Jesus has prepared the way to eternal life and so the only issue that may be unsettled is our willingness to believe.

So, what about the journey?

When I lived in Peterborough, not long after I had made a decision to become a Christian, I was walking through the city centre one afternoon and there was a service going on. The following Bible verse was being read over the speakers:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

I remember the speakers were blasting out this message and it was so powerful.

So how does all of this make sense when we are going through tough times, when our journey is filled with struggle and grief and pain. I believe that the prosperity and hope and future that Jeremiah is referring to we actually may not experience until we get to heaven because we live in a fallen world, but I also believe that God promises to be with us and give us strength for the journey.

There is a song called ‘Strength for the journey’ by Michael John Poirier

I will be, I will be, I will be strength for the journey.

I will be, I will be, I will be strength for the journey.

There is a road meant for you to travel, narrow and steep is the shepherd’s way.

And as you say, “Yes.” letting me guide you, I will be strength for the journey.

There is a cross meant for you to carry, there is a cross meant for you alone.

And as you bow down in humble surrender, I will be strength for the journey.

How many times have you doubted my word? How many times must I call your name?

And as you say, “Yes.” letting me love you. I will be strength for the journey.

When we are suffering, we often feel as though our pain will never end. In comparison to eternity our suffering will only last a little while. Some who are suffering are strengthened and delivered while on earth while others are released from suffering through death.

Peter in the Bible knew persecution first hand. He was beaten and jailed and he had seen fellow Christians die and the church scattered. But he knew Jesus, and nothing could shake his confidence in his risen Lord. So, Peter wrote to the church scattered and suffering for the faith, giving comfort and hope, and urging continued loyalty to Christ.

In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So, after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. 1 Peter 5:10

God made a way for us to spend eternity with Him in heaven by sending His Son Jesus to die on a cross for our sins. The first step to inheriting eternal life is to believe. That is, to place your faith in Jesus Christ as the only way to experience the forgiveness of sin and to be reconciled back to God.

When my husband Peter was battling cancer, we found strength from a song called ‘Waymaker’ and this is what inspired me to write this blog.

“Way Maker”
(originally by Sinach)
You are here, movin’ in our midst
I worship You, I worship You
You are here, workin’ in this place
I worship You, I worship You
You are here, movin’ in our midst
I worship You, I worship You
You are here, workin’ in this place
I worship You, I worship You

You are
Way maker, miracle worker
Promise keeper, light in the darkness
My God, that is who You are

You are here, touchin’ every heart
I worship You, I worship You
You are here, healin’ every heart
I worship You, I worship You
You are here, turnin’ lives around
I worship You, I worship You
You are here, mendin’ every heart
I worship You, I worship You

That is who You are
Way maker, miracle worker
Promise keeper, light in the darkness
My God, that is who You are
You are

Even when I don’t see it, You’re workin’
Even when I don’t feel it, You’re workin’
You never stop, You never stop workin’
You never stop, You never stop workin’
You are
Way maker, miracle worker
Promise keeper, light in the darkness
My God, that is who You are

When Peter was going through treatment and then when his cancer was no longer curable, I was asked the following questions:

 “How is your God a Waymaker when Peter is still unwell?” “Where is your God?” “Why is God allowing these things to happen in your life?” “Why has He deserted you?” “How can you sing that God is a Waymaker, a promise keeper and a light in the darkness?”

If this was the end of the story, I might be inclined to agree with them but there is a bigger picture and right now we can only see a part of that. One day we will see and be a part of the end portrait.

You see God is a Waymaker, a promise keeper and a light in the darkness!

He made a Way from the beginning of time to save a world that had fallen into sin and decay.

He made a Way by sending his Son Jesus to die on a cruel cross so that we could spend an eternity with him.

He made a Way. He promised to send a Saviour and He did. We cannot save ourselves. He sent Jesus to fulfil that promise.

Jesus is our light in the darkness. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life and because of Jesus we know the Way home.

So, the question is not, “Is God a Waymaker?” but the question is, “Do you know the Waymaker? “Are you on the Way?” “Do you know Jesus as your Saviour?”

At the beginning of this blog, I asked the following questions…….

Do you know where you are going? Do you know what direction you are heading? Do you think about where you are going in life or just keep plodding on regardless and hope for the best? Do you have a plan and what happens if your plan fails?

Remember we are all on a journey and we can all choose our destination. Peter and I chose eternity with God by trusting in Jesus Christ as a sacrifice for our sins. What have you chosen? I hope to see you in eternity!

In April 19 when Peter was unwell, I wrote a note and put it in the front of his Bible. The note said, “I promise to be with you always on this journey. I will help you through it.”

I think this is a promise for us all from God. He will be with us always on our journey and will help us through it until we reach the promised land.

God bless you.