Don’t you just love maps?

The promise of adventure, the thrill of exploration, the assurance of concrete guidance, clear directions north-south-east-west

hard-line clarifications making orderly sense of a chaotic world.

I have a pile of maps from National Geographic. They’re something of a passion.

For years, I’ve relied on maps for traveling.

I’m terrible at following verbal directions so I’ve always had a map to my destination on the seat beside me.

Until now.

Now, I have a new love in life, and it comes equipped with a British accent!

GPS.

How glorious to have a map that talks to me, offering a soothing, confident voice through unknown streets and U-turns.

It even recalculates when I take a wrong turn!

What luxurious freedom knowing I can veer off course, explore an alternative route, and still have a patient companion who will lead me to my destination!

I still love maps but until I met GPS, I hadn’t see maps’ limitations.

Sure, maps can show me the lay of the land and with a map, I can chart my course,

but maps don’t know where I am.

Maps can’t tell me how to correct when I make a wrong turn.

With a map, I don’t always have the freedom to explore a more interesting way to my goal.

My GPS encourages freedom and security while still getting me to my ultimate destination.

I think this is what Jesus was trying to explain about the law and the prophets.

 He didn’t come to abolish the law. The law served a purpose. The law was like a map to righteousness. It was amazing! It was instructive! It was the bomb!

Until Jesus rose from the dead, ascended, and the Holy Spirit became available to the church, to each of us, to me.

Now, the map to righteousness has a voice and can speak to me, the voice of Christ within me.

Like a GPS for life.

Like a living map to righteousness that knows my starting place, knows where I am, and can steer me back on course when I veer off track.

Freedom.

The freedom of knowing Jesus guides me from within, informing me of the path to righteousness with an internal tracking system, intimate with the mind of God and with my mind, as well.

How amazing!

“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” John 14:25-26 ESV

Be amazed.

Be continually amazed by Jesus.

And travel with confidence on the long road to the deep heart of God. We have the best companion.