Hiking the Trail of Life

Imagine you see a person going for a hike.  

He has spiky hair, a backpack, compass, hiking boots and a map. In the backpack, he probably has food, water, a knife, matches, flare, cellphone, survival blanket etc. He looks ready to go hiking. 

Then you take a closer look and realize…. His map is upside down, and he has a confused expression as he turns the compass round and round.  This man has all the proper gear for his hiking trip. Yet none of those things will do him any good if he does not know how to use them. If he is unable to use the map and compass he will be lost very quickly. He will potentially hurt himself and others if he tries to guide them with tools he does not understand. Perhaps before he tries to tackle his first big hike he should go with someone and learn on the trail how to use the tools and read the signs around him.

   This hiker reminds me of a Christian. The Christian has the right hair-do, the right outward appearance, a compass, a map, and extra supplies. (Psalm 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.)

   The Christian’s Compass is the Holy Spirit. Just as a compass always points north, so the Holy Spirit always points us to God. 

    The Christian’s map is the Bible. If we read it and learn more about what God says in the Bible, we will know the way in which we should go and be able to help others also.

   In their pack, they have tracts, John & Romans, books to help learn the Bible, maybe a scripture sign, maybe a notebook to write down what they learn, or a notebook to remember the prayer requests of others, etc.  

    A Christian has the internal compass, access to the Bible and many resources to help them learn and teach the Bible to others. Yet we do not see them ready to hike the trail. The hiker did not know how to use his equipment but he was still going to go hiking. 

   Why are Christians not willing to step out, on the trail? Certainly, they may come across other hikers who do not have the same resources in their pack. They may come across hikers who think the way they are hiking is wrong. But there are people hiking this trail, who have no direction, they are confused and lost. You might just come across people like that. That is who God wants us to reach. If you have all the right information, all the right resources from the right preacher/group, good for you, how do you plan to use it to reach the lost?

  

    If everyone is a hiker, everyone has access to the Holy Spirit (Internal Compass) and the Map (The Bible), some though were not trained to hike the trail with the Bible and Holy Spirit. Children have their packs filled with many things by their parents, teachers, friends, and family. Some packs are filled with a little Jesus, but most have philosophy, evolution, and a huge does of make yourself happy.

    As a Christian, you do not have to walk the trail of life confused. (Psalm119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.) Take the time to learn the Bible and let the Holy Spirit remind you to look to God. He is our guide as we walk this trail of life to be more like Jesus Christ.