Direction and Destination

A. We must all deal with two important questions in life.

1. What am I going to do with my life?

2. Where will I go after life is past?

B. The Psalmist has found the answers

1. His Lord would guide him through life.

2. Afterward, he would be received to glory.

C. How can we have the psalmist’s assurance? Let’s look at

Psalm 73:22–26 NKJV

22 I was so foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before You. 23 Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. 24 You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. 26 My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Here is what the psalmist found.

We Must Face Our Faults (22)

Psalm 73:22 NKJV

22 I was so foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before You.

1. The Psalmist had foolishly focused on the faults of others.

a. He had envied the prosperity of the wicked (1-12)

b. He had grieved over his pain and their supposed blessings.

2. Finally, he faced up to his own sins. (16-22)

ps 73.

Psalm 73:16–22 NKJV

16 When I thought how to understand this, It was too painful for me— 17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then I understood their end. 18 Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction. 19 Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors. 20 As a dream when one awakes, So, Lord, when You awake, You shall despise their image. 21 Thus my heart was grieved, And I was vexed in my mind. 22 I was so foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before You.

a. He went to the sanctuary and looked to God.

b. In looking to God, we see our need of Him.

3. We are all sinners in need of salvation ()

Romans 3:23 NKJV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

a. Prosperity means nothing when we are perishing.

b. Facing our sin produces repentance and faith.

4. “The Psalmist shows how faith and grace prevailed” (Matthew Henry)

We Must Be Grateful for God’s Guidance (23-24)

ps

Psalm 73:23–24 NKJV

23 Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. 24 You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory.

1. The presence of God is greater than the pleasures of the world.

a. Those who trust in Christ are never alone.

b. “I am continually with You”

c. “You hold me by your right hand.”

2. We can live constantly in the knowledge of God’s presence.

a. Christ is with us always. ()

Matthew 28:20 NKJV

20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

We will never be left or forsaken…

Hebrews 13:5 NKJV

5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

3. God’s guidance is given to those who trust Him. “You will guide me with Your counsel”.

b. The guidance of God determines the direction of our lives.

We Must Grasp the Guarantee of Glory (24-25)

Psalm 73:24–25 NKJV

24 You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.

1. “ And afterward receive me to glory.”

a. The psalmist was sure heaven was ahead.

b. How great to know the best is yet to come.

2. “Afterward” Blessed word. We can cheerfully put up with the present when we foresee the future and know that it is bright.” (C. H. Spurgeon)

Conclusion:

A. We can experience the Lord’s direction every day.

B. We can be sure of heaven since Jesus is the way.