I’m not sure how many of you use a GPS when you’re driving your car but how much trust do you put in it? Last week I had to drive into town during peak hour and my GPS detected a traffic jam on the route I had planned to go. I don’t like it when I have worked out what I’m going to do and something changes it. It took me through side streets that I’ve never been down and I had no idea where I was or which way it was taking me and I thought of turning of the GPS and taking my chances with the traffic jam because at least I knew that route. But I persisted and fairly soon I was back onto a major road that I recognized.
Sometimes the GPS throws up an alternative route and says similar time or sometimes it might say 5 minutes slower but no tolls to pay – so I have to make a decision. Am I prepared to take 5 minutes longer and save some money. They are quite intelligent – I have no idea how they work – but I place a lot of trust in my GPS.
Sometimes I place more trust in my GPS telling me which way to go than I do God. Which reminds me a lot of the Apostle Peter when Jesus told him the way they were going: That he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” Then there was the time he decided to abandon his route and walk on the water towards Jesus but saw the traffic jam ahead – the wind and the waves – and took his eyes off the road ahead where Jesus was and began to sink. Or the time when Jesus was about to be arrested and he said: “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” And we know that Peter turned off that route and denied Jesus 3 times – 3 times he detoured.
But let’s not be too critical of Peter as we can probably all recall our own times of not trusting in God to lead us out of troubling time and relying on our own navigation. As human beings we do have a tendency to want to be in control of our destiny. We learn that from an early age. Study hard, get a good education – get a good job – save – buy your own home – have a good investment strategy. This will lead your life down the right path. But what if something happens along the way – sickness, death, job loss? Don’t we often get told how much we need in order to retire – and it can sound rather frightening when it looks like we’re not in control of our future. In fear, a lot of people try to create their own destiny hoping to win the lottery to secure their future. And so you often hear people say after a win – “this is life changing”. It’s not really. It’s just money. Money has no control over your future – it just makes you feel comfortable about the future in the present time.
At the end of the day – rich or poor – we all face the same destiny as we hear when we attend a funeral. Dust we are – to dust we shall return. And often that is what we are really frightened about. We feel that if I can secure my earthly future I don’t have to worry about anything after that. And that’s what Jesus is attempting to teach his disciples today as he is preparing them for their future after his death. A time when they will be unsure about the future with their teacher and leader gone which has the potential to cause great distress. We see that distress after Jesus’ death when the disciples were locked away for fear of what was going to happen to them. But now Jesus assures them that they don’t need to worry about the future because he has assured it for them: Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.”
But Thomas, the one who will forever be known as doubting Thomas, is not convinced: Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way? And that’s where Jesus gives the definitive answer – the answer by which we find true security and comfort today also: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
The need to be in control is ingrained into our human psyche. I’ve mentioned it before – Adam and Eve are the prime example. Despite having all they needed and wanted they were tricked into taking control of their life and “being like God”. The Israelites constantly grumbled and wanted to go back to Egypt where they knew where their next meal was coming from rather than the insecurity of wandering in the desert wondering where their next meal and drink would come from. Jonah actually went in the opposite direction to which God directed him because he was afraid. Maybe you’re unsure of what the future holds. Interest rates – cost of living – your health – your retirement – Maybe these are causing you to have fears and doubts. Jesus says to you today also – don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust God – Trust Jesus.
I realise sometimes that means letting go of the steering wheel and letting God take over. But Jesus has made a very special promise to us: Would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you if I wasn’t? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going. People try to find all sorts of paths to future security but there is only one path to true security – eternal security. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life and no one can come to the Father – to eternal assurance – except through Jesus.
Following my GPS gives me assurance of reaching my destination but if something happens while on my way – a flat tyre – an accident that has just happened = then it cannot continue to assure me of when or if I will arrive on that route it has chosen. But Jesus assures us no matter what happens in life that we will reach our heavenly destination through him and until we are there he promises “I am with you always till the end of the age”.
