Road Work Ahead

     The Word of God gives us road signs by which to live, and like the prophet Jeremiah we often discover that the road work ahead is mentally and spiritually challenging.

     To prepare for our road work, it will be helpful to understand Jeremiah’s call from God. He did not attend Seminary. He did not write a thesis for an advanced degree in Theology. He did not pray and asked God to choose him as a prophet. He was a young boy, as indicated by his response when God called him in Jeremiah 1:6-8. “Then said I, Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.” But God made his instructions to Jeremiah clear: “Say not, I am a child. Go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.” (KJV) Jeremiah had some road work ahead.

     Have you had that experience? Have you been content with life as is when without warning your world turned upside down? Did you believe that life was progressing just as you wanted but God…  Did you find yourself in an unexpected situation? If so, perhaps you can better understand Jeremiah’s reluctance to answer God’s call to a work that would take him into situations from which he would need to be delivered, rescued, or saved. Jeremiah’s obedience called him to trust God with his life—so does yours and mine.

     While we may be different from others in our vocation, our personality, our dreams and goals, we are alike in this; God desires each of us to know Him and to lead others to know Him. That requires us to be vigilant, watchful, alert—mindful of the road signs God places along our path. We must care enough to weep and warn those who do not have a relationship with Christ of the perils of living a life outside the will of God.

     The road that we take, our conduct, our way of life, our lifestyle, must be deliberate, pro-active, and purposeful. We must pay attention not only for our sake but also for the sake of those who will watch and follow after us—family, friends, co-workers, strangers. We are leaving a legacy. Our legacy is either of faith and obedience or of unbelief and disobedience. The choice is yours and mine. Let us pray and ask God to help us choose wisely for there is road work ahead.