Directions to the Kingdom

16 “I will lead the blind by a way they do not know, In paths they do not know I will guide them. I will make darkness into light before them And rugged places into plains. These are the things I will do, And I will not leave them undone.”

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." -John 14:6.

Introduction

When Yvette and I used to travel before there were GPS units (Global Positioning System), before there were smart phone, I counted a blessing to have a helpmate that could read a map. Some of you listening today may remember them. You always kept a folded local map in your glove box.

Back in 1996, when I moved from Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, driving across country to San Jose. A stop at Triple A and they would map out your route for you and bundle them all up. A local map to get you to the the nearest freeway, a national map to get you to whatever state you were headed and a local map of your destination. Yvette still carries maps just in case, the GPS fails, or the smartphone isn’t as smart, no signal, no power.

Back then it was somewhat safe to stop and ask directions as you got closer to your destination, maybe, at a gas station, a local store or even a person walking down the street.

Let me ask you , before there were GPS units did you ever have to asked for directions? Were you able to understand 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.

It is equally frustrating when we receive directions, but they are so complicated that they are hard to follow. What we asked was a simple question, but too often we get complicated rather than a simple answers.

You know there are many who are trying to find the way to a Godly life i the same manner. 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 Kingdom. Some have asked directions from those who ended up steering them in circles and left them confused.

The reality is that some have stopped looking for the Kingdom altogether.

The title for today’s message is “Directions to the Kingdom”

Our Scripture is taken from “John 14:6”

John 14:6 NASB95

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

As Believers, we rejoice that we have found the directions to heaven.

Jesus, who is there and onced lived here on earth, 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.

If you have your Bible, turn with me to Isaiah 42:16

Isaiah 42:16 NASB95

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 of Isaiah.

Chapters 40-66 also in the Book of Isaiah, the focus is on how God delivered 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 today who are similarly looking for direction.

Verse 16 is a passage that makes a prediction of hope for the lost.

Isaiah 42:16 NASB95

Speaking directly to Judah, God makes three promises to those that truly want directions for restoration:

1. 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."

2. 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 is a close relationship with God that leads to eternal life.

3. 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.

4. I WILL MAKE 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 landmark that showed the way in Isaiah's time.

However, Jesus is the final landmark for the believers searching for the Kingdom. He announced to all that followed Him that He is the way. God will do for everyone that believes what He promised in Isaiah. He will make a way, lead us in the path, turn darkness to light and straighten out the crookedness if we will simply believe in Him.

The point is that, no man can find the way to the Kingdom except first he accepts Christ into his life and let Him lead the way!

So how do you get to the Kingdom of God?

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 wherever we happen to be, if we only follow the following these four steps:

1. 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,

Luke 13:5 NASB95

5 “I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will 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.

2. TURN RIGHT:

After we stop participating in sinful activity, we must turn from our evil ways. Listen to Zechariah 1:4

Zechariah 1:4 NASB95

4 “Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Return now from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.” ’ But they did not listen or give heed to Me,” declares the Lord.

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 ...

Joel 2:12–13 NASB95

12 “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “Return to Me with all your heart, And with fasting, weeping and mourning; 13 And rend your heart and not your garments.” Now return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness And relenting of evil.

3. 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 states ...

Matthew 7:14 NASB95

14 “For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who 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.

Those who walk the straight path are certain to make it to the kingdom of heaven.

4. Look For the Cross

Finally, my 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 landmark. This landmark is not a store at the turn of the bend or a large Oak tree at the end of the road. This landmark is not a certain billboard or flashing light at an intersection.

Those who want to make it into the Kingdom of 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 a story I read about 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!"

John 3:16–17 Says “16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”

but if you are still unsure of the way to the Kingdom, look back at John 14:6

John 14:6 NASB95

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

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 your right, keep your eyes on the cross!

That's why David declared in Psalm 121:1–2 “1 I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come? 2 My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and 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 the Kingdom of God, 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 …. BECAUSE …. Because Early One Sunday morning He arose from the grave! And declared all power over Heaven and Earth and below the Earth.

but if you are still unsure of the way to the Kingdom, look back at John 14:6 where Jesus Christ Himself gives you directions

John 14:6 NASB95

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.