Biblical Road Signs

As most of you know, right after we are done here this morning, my family and I will be taking off for vacation and will be gone for about 10 days. Lord Willing, we will not have any major vehicle problems or any negative life changing events, this time around.

Anytime we take a trip, I like to look at a map of our route before we go. Yes, we have phones and GPS’s to help with getting to our destination, but the map shows me every highway I need to drive on and every town that we will go through and I can use that information to plan our trip accordingly.

While the map gives me a great overview of the route we should take, there is something else that is very important to keep us on course to our destination....

(SLIDE- “Road signs” (have picture of random signs))

Without road signs, how would we know if we were going the right way? How would we know when we were approaching an intersection? Are we supposed to stop at that intersection?… So yes, we need the map, but we also need the road signs.

Chuck Swindoll says “Think of the Scriptures as an absolutely accurate map. A map tells you how to get to a certain destination. But just looking at a map won't automatically transport you to Arizona or England or Peru. Getting to those places means you have to make the effort...pay the cost...take the time for travel...stay at it until you arrive. In a word, persevere. So it is in the Christian life. God's map is reliable and available. It is also clear and direct...”

God has given us a practical life map to live our lives for Him. He’s pointed to our final destination. The Bible tells us which roads we should travel. It explains everything we need to know for this trip through life on our way to heaven.

And there are times, as followers of Christ, that we need some road signs to help us make sure we are headed in the right direction… Another way to say this is – sometimes we need to know “what now?” What do I do when I don’t know what to do?… Where do I turn when I don’t know what direction to go?

Have you ever had to ask that question? You just didn’t know what to do or which way to turn?

Maybe the problem is that you were not reading the road signs. God posts them along our way – but we have to pay attention and keep an eye out for them.

Meat:

Today I want to show you three “biblical road signs” to help guide you through this trip we call life; Three specific signs that, if you follow them, will guide you in the right direction – always. This a 100% guarantee. If you answer these questions and follow God’s direction you will be assured of the right answer…

How can I be so confident? Because God’s Word guarantees it!

Look at Proverbs 2:1-9, Our main verse is verse 9, but lets get the context of it first… (Read 1-9)...

Did you catch that? Solomon basically says “If you do these things, you will know how to find the right course of action every time.”

If you want to make sure you are always going in the right direction, if you want to make sure your decisions are always the best, then all you have to do, is follow these...

Road Signs:

The first road sign is what we will call

(Find a “One Way” Sign for slide background)

1. THE DIRECTIONAL SIGN

You’ve got to be willing to follow the directions and God’s Word, the Bible gives all the direction you need!

The first question you need to ask yourself is what does the Bible say?

What does the Bible say about my problem, my decision, the choice I need to make?

Does what I am about to do fit into what the Bible says I should do?

Is this the direction the Bible says I should go?

Often the answer to that question is pretty obvious. There are some definite things the Bible tells us we SHOULD NOT DO. Those are called sin. And remember, sin is best defined as anything that will hurt you or someone else. If the Bible says no – they I shouldn’t.

Someone here has a sticker on the back of their vehicle that says “If the Bible calls it a sin, then your opinion doesn’t matter”… and that statement is very true. There are things in our current culture that are 100% legal, but are completely contrary to what God’s Word teaches. And in those situations, the Bible needs to be our final authority.

On the other hand, there are some definite things the Bible tells us we SHOULD DO. The Bible tells us to be kind to others. The Bible tells us to be honest. The Bible tells us to give to God what belongs to Him.

If the Bible tells me I should go in a certain direction, then I’d better follow that direction. Why, because God already knows where my choices will lead me. He already knows what’s going to happen next. His Word tells me what to stay away from and what to get involved with.

The Bible is God’s direction book, God’s map for our lives, a fully detailed map that includes road signs. The more we understand it, the more we follow it, the more our lives will “work”.

There’s actually a whole chapter in the Bible that deals specifically with following God’s direction. It’s no accident that it’s the longest chapter in the Bible: Psalm 119. Turn there if you will… and look at what the Psalmist says...

Psalm 119:26 - I have declared my ways, and You answered me; Teach me Your statutes.

Psalm 119:32 - I will run the course of Your commandments...

Psalm 119:35 - Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, For I delight in it.

(“Read that again”…)

The NLT words it like this… “Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found.”

Do you find happiness when you follow God’s commands???

Verse 45 - And I will walk at liberty (or in freedom), For I seek Your precepts (or commands)...

Living by God’s commands brings freedom.

Verse 60 - I made haste, and did not delay, To keep Your commandments.

We should not hesitate to follow God’s commands.

Verse 101 - I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word.

We should refuse to walk any direction other than where God’s Word points.

Verse 105 - Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

God’s Word will give us light when the decision seeks unclear.

Verse 133 - Direct my steps by Your word, And let no iniquity have dominion over me.

God’s Word will guide our steps if we listen to and obey it.

Listen Y’all: if you are unwilling to follow God’s Word as the starting point, you may as well forget the rest of the signs. The road signs will mean nothing if you are going the wrong direction down the road.

So the first Road sign is– Directional – you have to follow God’s directions.

Question: What does the Bible say about my direction, my decision?

The second biblical road sign is what we will call...

(Find Keep Right Sign for background)

2. THE KEEP RIGHT SIGN

This is the sign of...

2.1 Honesty or Integrity

You will have to ask yourself… Is my choice honest? Would I want others to know that I am going down this path? If you are heading down a path and you are worried what others might think if they ever found out – you’re probably heading in the wrong direction.

Proverbs 10:9-10 tell us…

Proverbs 10:9–10 NASB95

9 He who walks in integrity walks securely, But he who perverts his ways will be found out. 10 He who winks the eye causes trouble, And a babbling fool will be ruined.

James 4:17 says,

James 4:17 NKJV

17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

Michael had been pinching pennies for 3 months since being laid off from his job. He’d promised to take his twin sons to an amusement park for the 10th birthday, and he wasn’t going to let them down. So when the day rolled around, Michael went into the cash reserves and pulled together enough to pay the price of admission. At the ticket counter, he noticed a sign. “General admission- $10. Children under 10- $5.” He hesitated for a second. Just a day earlier he could have saved $5 for each of the boys- a lot of money to a man without a job. “Can I help you?” asked the ticket clerk. Michael swallowed and said, “Three general admission tickets, please.” “We’re 10 years old today,” the boys said enthusiastically. “You should have asked for two ‘under 10’ tickets,” the clerk whispered. “I’d never have known.” “No,” Michael answered. “But they would have.”

The “Keep Right” or the “honesty” sign asks the question: “Does my public life and my private life match?” Am I walking on the right side of the road even wen no one is looking?

Somehow we actually think we can make dishonest choices and get away with it. We believe we can plant seeds of sin today and not have to worry about them tomorrow. But...

Galatians 6:7 warns us:

Galatians 6:7 NKJV

7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

So, You may decide not to be honest, but you can’t drive on the wrong side of the road without eventually getting in some sort of trouble!

I know what you’re thinking right now, “But Pastor Tom, sometimes the choice isn’t that clear. Sometimes some people will think it’s ok and others will not like my choice. What then?

Well, Romans chapter fourteen gives some direction for that problem as well: “But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong” and it’s wrong “if it makes another person stumble”. Some things just aren’t worth doing. If I feel its wrong I should avoid it. And I should definitely avoid it if it’s going to hurt someone else (but we’ll get to that later).

The 2nd Road sign is – Keep Right – you have to stay on the right side of the road.

Ask yourself: Would I want everyone to know that I’ve made this choice? Is it honest?

The third and final road sign that I want to mention is...

(Find “Under Construction” sign for background)

3. THE CONSTRUCTION SIGN

Will this decision, will this direction build me up or tear me down? Will it make me a better person?

Most, if not all of you, would probably say “Pastor Tom, I really want to be a better person.”

I know what you are trying to say. You want God to do a work in you. You want Him to free you from the habits, addictions, the problems you are facing. You want Jesus to feel closer and have a greater part of your daily life. You want Him to make you a better person!

That is exactly what this road sign represents!… But, While you are asking God to make you a better person, are you also asking yourself that same question? Are you asking yourself if the decisions you are making actually benefit you? Will that decision, will that direction help get you to where you want to be next?

Will that decision really improve your life?

1 Corinthians 10:23 says, “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up.”

Now think for a minute as we get ready to close the message for today:… how many decisions did you make this week based on the “construction sign”? How many decisions did you make when you actually stopped and asked, “Is this really the best thing for me, for my family, for my testimony to others?”

The decisions we make should be based on how they will help us grow.

The Very Words of this construction sign are encouraging in and of themselves… – it says we are “under construction”! You know what that means??? …

3.1 God isn’t finished with us yet!

I remember my mom singing the chorus...

“He's still working on me To make me what I need to be It took him just a week to make the moon and stars The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars How loving and patient He must be 'Cause He's still workin' on me”

When there is major road construction project, one of the first things that happens is the old road gets tore out, the old is removed… And if you have a desire to allow God to do some construction in your heart and in your life then the first thing that needs to happen is the removal of the old road that you’ve been walking on.

The old road is removed, the foundation is repaired and then the new road is laid down… This begins with turning your life over to Christ…

2 Corinthians 5:17 says “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

Closing:

You have gotten to this point in your life and maybe you are pretty discouraged.

You haven’t always made the best decisions. As a matter of fact, you would probably say that you’ve made some pretty bad decisions!

You haven’t followed the directional sign – you haven’t listened much to what God has been telling you in His Word – and you feel lost.

You haven’t always traveled on the right side of the road – you’ve made some decisions that you’re not to proud of.

You’ve made decisions that have torn your life down instead of building you up.

Here’s the good news – God hasn’t given up on you! He’s not finished with you yet. He’s simply waiting for you to come to him and let Him in the driver’s seat!

I generally don’t use versions of God’s Word that are paraphrased, However, I like the way “The Message” paraphrases Jesus’ words in Matthew eleven:

It says…

“Are you tired? Worn out?...Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it…I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

God is not finished with you yet. He has the power to set you back on course and lead you in the direction that you should go!

Remember these three road signs: the directional sign, the “Keep Right” sign and the construction sign

Remember to ask yourself…

Does my decision fit what the Bible tells me I should do?

Is my decision honest?

Will this decision build me and others up or tear us down?

I want to close with the words that Paul wrote to the Philippians...

Philippians 1:6 “I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”