Where Are You?

He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. [John 1.10]

As I prayed this morning, I had a thought about how some people understand where they are in the world, and some do not. Specifically, I was thinking about understanding directions and maps - the ability to have a sense of general direction at all times and in all places. 

I realize that some people haven't a clue as to where they are as it relates to where other places are. Consequently, they generally have no idea which way to go except for the habit of having gone that way before. Any deviation to their known routes can render them hopelessly lost and disoriented.

It occurred to me that people described above need to study a map. They need orientation. They need to hone their general sense of direction. They need to understand the very basics of navigation starting with the position of everything around them as it relates to the constant path of the sun. In other words, they need to understand that the sun always rises in the east and sets in the west. They need to understand that because of this truth, the orientation of everything else is then simple. North is always to the left of East and South is always to the right of East.

It also occurred to me that good maps always are oriented "North-up." There are some theories why North is always upward on globes and maps (the most valid one has to do with Ptolemy), but it really doesn't matter. Any orientation of a map is valid as long as one understands its relation to the path of the sun.

See where I am going with this?

Many people are lost in this world geographically. But many more are lost in this world spiritually. They are spiritually lost because they are not oriented in their spiritual world with the only thing that is constant: God.

If one does not have an understanding of God, how can he understand anything else? He cannot - at least understand anything according to what is actually true anyway. If people do not recognize God (as the scripture above stated about Jesus), then they are doomed to disorientation - they are hopelessly lost as far as God goes. They may feel oriented by other things in their life, but nothing besides God is constant and true - which means their perceived orientation will only be temporary. What this means is that habitual spiritual orientation, based on landmarks of emotion or men, can be altered. Emotions and men change, so therefore, orientation to either of them is a good way to sooner of later get lost!

God, like the sun, is constant. The Law of Moses was a great landmark for many years. However, as time passed, the Law changed (through the interpretation of man). What once directed men to God became something totally different. So, Jesus came to the earth as God - constant - so that men might once again be oriented correctly. Amazingly, Jesus referred to Himself as the Way, Truth and Life (in other words, constant - like the sun). He was no different than God, but men had become so "oriented" to the "landmark" of the Law that they did not recognize Him.

The remedy for disorientation in life is Jesus. Unlike many have come to believe about Him, His life was not just a nice story. Jesus' life was a re-calibration to man's understanding of God. Jesus showed us what is constant and therefore what is true. He showed us how God is, and how God intends that we be. Because He came in human form, He showed us what 'God in man' constantly looks like (or should look like). He truly is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

No matter then what the world says, we need to orient ourselves to Jesus. The world's changing landmarks present consistency only in the fact that they constantly change. Jesus does not change. Faith does not change. Love does not change. If we orient ourselves to Jesus, we will be always on track and always sure of our 'location.'

If the Bible is a map, then Jesus is the 'sun' giving constant orientation.

Father, thank You for making me think about maps today.