Go With God

Introduction

“Goodbye”

How many times have you heard that word over the last week or so?

The word “goodbye” originates from a contraction of the phrase “God be with ye,” which was a common form of farewell in the 16th century.

Over time, this phrase was shortened and altered through common usage, eventually becoming “goodbye.” The evolution followed a path from “God be with ye” to “godby” to “goodbye,” reflecting the common linguistic process of elision, where sounds or syllables are omitted in spoken language for ease of pronunciation.

Even in other languages, statements of farewell were actually blessings and prayers that God will take care of a person on their journey

Ex., “adieu” (from French “à Dieu,” meaning “to God”), adíos = “to God”

However it is said, the idea is that as you leave, may God go with you.

As you prepare to leave, I’d like to flip this into something a bit more biblical.

Instead of God be with you as you Go, I’d like to encourage you instead to GO WITH GOD.

I believe this is much more biblical. Let me show you what I mean. . .

Genesis 12:1–9 (ESV)

1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.

God Abram to GO; however, he didn’t give Abram a destination as much as he gave him direction.

“OK God, I’ll go. Where should I go?”

“To the land I will show you.” “Yup. Got it. Where’s that?”

“I’ll show you.”

“I know. I’m watching. Where is it?”

“I’ll SHOW you.” “How can I go without knowing where I am going?”

It’s as if God was telling Abram that the destination was not as important as HIS continual direction.

How many of you have an idea of what you plan ot do after you graduate?

How many of you know where you’ll be in 10 years?

Parents, how many of you are doing now exactly what you thought you would be when you graduated high school? Yeah, me neither.

You don’t need to know where you are going as long as you know WHO goes with you. (12:1)

ILLUST - rock climbing the time Greg picked me up to go rock climbing.

I learned an important lesson that day - the place you go is not as important as who goes with you.

So, for those of you who believe you have a plan for the moment you graduate, let me encourage you: focus more on God’s direction than on any single destination

And, for those of you who have absolutely no idea what you will do next year, let me encourage you: be concerned more about God’s direction than about having a destination

God will lead you to a good and meaningful life. (12:2)

Please hear me, I did not say that God will lead you to an easy life, or a simple life, or a wealthy life, or a healthy life, or even a long life.

But it will be a GOOD life. Because, when you Go with God he works “all things together for good for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Listen to what God said to Abram as Abram goes with God:

2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.

This isn’t simply a statement of prosperity - it’s the promise of a meaningful life.

This promise is the foundation of the Christian faith.

Genesis 17:6 (ESV)

6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you.

Genesis 18:18 (ESV)

18 seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

Galatians 3:14 (ESV)

14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

That is a meaningful life! Do you think Abram had any idea his first steps out of Haran would lead him to start a nation through whom kings would come including eventually the King of Kings and Savior of all mankind?!

Maybe that’s why God didn’t tell Abram the destination - he might have been worried he would take a wrong step! Just Go with God, Abram.

Where might God want to take you? How might you be taking your first steps towards a kingdom impact that you cannot see now?

The safest thing you can do is risk everything to Go With God. (12:3)

Show me in Scripture where we are called to pursue a safe and comfortable life.

Show me one fully devoted Bible character whose aim in life was to make it safely to the grave with little to no risk.

The greatest stories in the Bible are those who Go with God and arrive in places only God could take them - and few found safety along the way.

Joseph in jail

Moses in Egypt

Joshua across the Jordan

Daniel in the lion’s den

Esther in the king’s court

David hiding in a cave

Elijah next to a soaked altar

Any of the prophets

John in front of Herod

Jesus in the garden

Peter stepping over waves

Paul being beaten, stoned, whipped, and ridiculed

Because direction with questions is still better than the answer of a destination when you are Going with God.

And so, risking everything to Go With God is the safest thing you can do.

Not calling to foolish risk but faithful risk.

Risk of loss for fun or own desires = foolish

Risk of loss in the direction God is calling = faithful

3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him,

“So Abram went as the LORD had told him. . .” (12:4)

Your options are to: go against God, go apart from God, or Go with God

- How do you Go with God?

You listen as he leads.

Isaiah 30:21 (ESV)

21 And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.

Listen at every turn, with every decision, along every step of the journey.

Seek God’s direction and not your own destination.

“So Abram went as the LORD had told him. . .” (12:4)

And so today you will go.

The question is, will you go as the LORD directs you?

Will you Go with God?