Over the years I have learned the power of questions. They provoke us to think! In fact they often bring us up short and could save us from much pain and suffering or from going down a wrong path.
Recently a friend shared this question with me. "Where will Jesus be in ten years and what are you willing to do to follow Him there?" This question provokes us to think! What do you mean where will Jesus be in ten years? It causes us to wonder if we will be where He is working! We often misuse the scripture, "Jesus never leaves us or forsakes us," for meaning we can do anything we want and still be in the will of God. This is not the truth. Yes, the Holy Spirit does not depart from us, but walking in the Spirit and will of God requires a close relationship with God. A relationship that is able to hear His voice and is willing to obey. Scripture bears this out.
Such was the case with Saul of Tarsus. God had a plan for His life and He has one for you also. Jesus rudely interupts his life with a question, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" Saul was not going where Jesus was working and where God planned for him to be! You might say, "Well he had never met the Lord, so that is different." Well a few years later Saul wanted to go into Asia, but God spoke and forbid him to go (Acts 16:6). Then in a vision a man from Macedonia pleaded with him to come over to Macedonia. What would have happened if Paul had gone to Asia? Would Jesus have been there with him? Can we be guilty of being on our own path, while God's plan for our lives is on another path?
These are thought provoking questions that I hope may cause you to think! I believe that the Holy Spirit never leaves me even if I refuse to obey His leading. Most often we simply miss the road sign that says, turn here! God's not angry with us. He simply desires to have a deeper relationship with us so that we are more sensitive to His leading. Walking with God requires sacrifice! What are you willing to do to follow Him?
The original question contains two parts. Where will Jesus be in ten years? Better yet, where is He today! The second part is, "What are you willing to do to follow Him?" I will leave you with this. Don't take forgranted that God's will is where you are! I have learned that Jesus often leads us to very strange places that are quite different than we would ever conceive of. Are you willing to go to Samaria? Are you willing to touch the lepers of today? THINK BEFORE YOU ANSWER! Your destiny could be depending on your answer!
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