God's Good Guidance

Luck is a word that ought to be banished from a Christian’s vocabulary; for life is not a lottery and this world is not governed by chance. Our Heavenly Father’s precious promise is, “I will teach thee in the way which thou shalt go; I will guide thee with mine eye upon thee.” When the children of Israel were making their long march from Egypt to Canaan a miraculous pillar of cloud overhung their camp. In the morning, when Israel was to move onward the cloud gathered itself into the upright column, and pioneered the way in which Moses was to march. All that the Israelites had to do was to watch the cloud.

We may sometimes envy those pilgrims of the desert who were only obliged to look out of their tents in order to learn whether 69 they were to remain quiet or go ahead; and if they were to move they knew just whither to bend their steps. But our God, if we ask him, will be as truly with us in our life-journey as he was with the children of Israel. He will be our guide even unto death. We have his infallible Book as a lamp to our feet, and a light upon our pathway; and in dark hours of bereavement what a cheerful gleam it pours into sorrowing homes and hearts! One of the best proofs that my Bible is God’s book is that it has a clear “thus sayeth the Lord” over the path that leads to heaven, and a most distinct ‘’thou shalt nof over the enticing gateways that lead downward toward hell. As the night-watchman beside a railway track swings his red lantern in token of danger, so our loving Father holds out what may be called his red lights of warning and prohibition on the pathways to ruin.

Not only does every true believer have

his Bible for his rule of faith and practice,

but he is promised the instruction and help

of the Holy spirit. “He will guide you into I all truth.” In addition to this, the docile and obedient beUever has the example of his Master, who has said, ‘’He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” There have been some extravagant things said about walking “in his steps,” but certain it is that if all Christians would examine their Master’s footprints they would oftener discover their own path of duty, and would not stray into the seductive roads to self-indulgence, and worldly conformities. “Follow me” means — go where you can have my presence and my blessing; if we cannot carry Christ and a clean conscience with us, then not one step! The infallible Word and the help of the Holy Spirit and the example of our Lord are not all that we have to direct us. There is also what we may call the pillar of Providence. We often talk about “special providence” because we can then detect the leadings of God’s hand more clearly than at other times; but the whole government of God in regard to us may be a complex series of overseeing and orderings. Sometimes 71 the workings are exceedingly complex; just as in a watch the wheels move in opposite directions, yet the one mainspring drives them all, and on the dial-plate we read the meaning of the movements. The most vital steps in life turn on small pivots. The Bible abounds in the stories of special providences from Pharaoh’s daughter going down to bathe in the Nile to Philip’s meeting the eunuch on his way to Gaza. Livingstone intended to go to China; but while he was boarding in London, Robert Moffat happened in one evening, and talked to the boarders about Africa; that talk decided the young Scotchman towards the most wonderful missionary career of the nineteenth century. Nearly every minister may have his experience of the divine guidance. After long and painful perplexities about accepting a certain attractive call, I opened a book and read this seldom noticed text, “Wherefore gaddest thou about to change thy way?” In an instant I made a decision on which the major portion of my whole life-work has turned. My faith 72 forbids me to believe that this incident was a matter of haphazard chance.

One important thing with the children of Israel was to keep their eyes on the movings or the restings of the cloud-pillar. They did not move it; the cloud moved them. A Christian who would be happy and successful in his spiritual life must be an open-eyed servant of his Master. He must come to his Bible not to read his own preconceived opinions into the Book, but bring God’s teachings out of the Book. He must be open-eyed to study his Lord’s example, “Looking unto Jesus” signifies not only the ground of our salvation, but the guidance of our conduct. We must be open-eyed to our seasons of earnest prayer, to discover what responses our consciences give; for the Holy Spirit often works on a good conscience as the noonday sun does on a sea captain’s quadrant. Especially must we keep our eyes clear and “single” to watch the leadings of Providence. Does the cloud very evidently move? Then pull up tent-pins, and be ready to go where it guides you. 7Z

Paul was not the only minister who had the divine direction to his right field of labor. Every Christian also — whether pastor, or teacher, or parent, or whatever he or she may be — who longs to win souls must be on the lookout for opportunities. I fear that lost opportunities will cast a shadow on the golden pavement of heaven with more than one of us!

Finally, let us watch for the cloud, and walk by the cloud of God’s good guidance. Study the Book. Study Christ, and study Providence, and you will seldom make a serious mistake in life. God will show you by the way he leads you whither he desires you to go. The pillar of cloud will only be needed until you and I get to the Jordan. On the other side of the parted river is the flashing glory of the New Jerusalem! March by the cloud till you reach the crown!