Where's the Map?

Do you remember the first time you got lost driving to a destination? You started out going the way you needed to. Everything seemed to be going fine, but an hour later you were nowhere near the destination and you had no idea where you were. How does that even happen? Oftentimes it’s because we missed a fork in the road or made one wrong turn that ended up with another. Then another. And maybe another after that. Eventually leading to a place you never wanted to go in the first place. The reality is this is the story of many believers. We start out on fire for God. We’ve got big plans for what we will do. Then years later, we’re no longer on fire. We’re comfortable with the church life we’ve established. And really we haven’t accomplished all that we hoped for. Or maybe the story is a little different. Everything started out fine, then it was one bad choice after another. One little decision that didn’t seem like a big deal. One unexpected twist that led down a path you never wanted to travel. How did that happen? The truth is it’s the little things that add up. It’s the little things that count because it’s the little things that can cause the most damage.

The author of Song of Songs says it this way: Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards (Song of Songs 2:15 NIV). The little fox can do the most damage. A little thorn can cause much suffering. A small cloud may hide the sun. Tiny foxes spoil the vineyards; and little sins do mischief to the tender heart. These small sins burrow in the soul and fill it with what is hateful to Christ, and thus our comfortable fellowship and communion with Him is spoiled. A great sin cannot destroy a Christian, but a little sin can make him miserable (Alistair Begg, Little Sins).

Getting lost is easy. Finding your way back can be hard. When you’re driving, sometimes all you need is a map until you get back to a place that’s familiar. For the believer, we’ve been given the road map to get back to a place of deep relationship with God. Jesus gave us the directions to get back to a familiar place. He said as the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete (John 15:9-11 NIV).

Remain in His love. Keep His commands. Then your joy will be complete. If you’re feeling lost today. Follow the map. Remain in the love of Jesus inside of you. The little things do add up for us. One step at a time, draw closer to Jesus Christ. One moment at time, turn toward Him. The little things matter.