In yesterday’s blog, I started with:

Whenever you are headed someplace, you need to know your current position in order to get the map to give you directions to where you are going.

I then proceeded to discuss WHERE we were going to.

Where am I going? What is my destination?
My goal is Glory and my destination is HEAVEN! I want to live in Ps 91:1

Now that we know where we are going(and that Heaven is in our hearts), we need to know from where we start!

We used to sing a song years ago that went like this:

You brought me out of the mirey clay,
You set my feet on the rock to stay,
You put a song in my heart today,
a Song of praise, Hallelujah.

This song is from a wonderful set of verses:

Ps 40:2-3KJV He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, [and] established my goings.
And he hath put a new song in my mouth, [even] praise unto our God: many shall see [it], and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

Ps 40:2NIVHe lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.

Just check out this list of the various versions of Psalm 40:2. What a glorious thing God did for us…delivering us from that pit!

That tells us that our starting point was in a horrible pit of despair, destruction, a deep waste place.  One version says “and brought me out of the pit of misery and the mire of dregs.”

Another description of the starting point is DARKNESS.  It is inferred, because of God’s redeeming work of bringing people OUT of darkness.

Ps 107:10 – Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, [being] bound in affliction and iron;

Is 42:7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, [and] them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

Luke 1:79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and [in] the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

We start in Darkness and Despair.

Only two people started in light; Adam and Eve.  They lived in the garden, and walked and talked WITH God in the cool of the evening.  They CHOSE darkness, and were expelled from the Garden.

~note:  I believe the Garden was a REAL place, and that God REALLY walked with Adam and Eve, just like God talked face-to-face with Moses.

Then, we have a choice….even creation shouts the glory of God. NO EXCUSES!!!

Romans 1:20 New Living Translation (©2007)
For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

But out choices, just as Adam and Eve’s, keep us in darkness.

2 Cor 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

I thank God that we are given the FREEDOM of CHOICE!!!  I am soooooo PRO CHOICE!  It’s YOUR CHOICE to go to heaven or hell!  No one’s choice but YOURS and MINE!

Ok, so,  we start in darkness – and the next step forward is to move towards the light…and this is an interesting point…Do we move towards God or does God move towards us???

John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. (this verse gives a hint to a trip we are going to take later, with JESUS! Yeah!)

John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

John 14:23  New International Version (©1984)
Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

Matt 11:28 Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

The right answer is YES!

James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse [your] hands, [ye] sinners; and purify [your] hearts, [ye] double minded.

Eph 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Titus 3:4-7 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

It’s OUR CHOICE – But we have to answer HIS CALL!

Josh 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that [were] on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

A Friend of mine, Ms Cheryl Miller, wrote this on her Facebook status today:

Many are called but few are chosen (Matthew 22:14) the call goes out to the entire world, but there are many who turn deaf ear to this message without listening to what it’s all about. It’s not that God has restricted his invitation to a select group, but it’s the group that is willing to hear the call of God. Ultimately only a few will be chosen because the majority will be unwilling to sacrifice and fulfill the conditions of salvation which is little compared to the great sacrifice that Jesus made. Be blessed

This was so perfect this morning!  And so true…For God so loved THE WORLD….As many as will believe will be saved!

We are called….and Jesus wants to bring us out of darkness, out of captivity…that’s why HE GAVE HIS LIFE. Therefore, our starting point is facing the cross. We may not know the depths of our despair and depravity, but no one – NO ONE – meets the criteria to enter into God’s Kingdom according to His laws! By our choices, we are shut out. Don’t think so? Here’s a page I wrote asking “So you think you’re going to heaven, right?” Here is Ray Comfort’s online test to see if you are good enough.

Some folks are starting, just realizing that they need to embrace the cross of Jesus Christ.  That is THE place that EVERYONE  starts.

There is ONLY one way…at the cross.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

In fact, this passage talks about Jesus taking a journey….

John 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if [it were] not [so], I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also.

Then He says this:

John 14:4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

SAY WHAT????  I KNOW Where and How to get there? REPEAT THAT PLEASE!!! And, that’s Jesus talking…it’s in RED!!!!  <grin>

John 14:4 New International Version (©1984)
You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Dear Old Thomas…he asked the question….”Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?”
I’m not sure he got the answer he was looking for…or if the question was actually answered…but this is when Jesus said:
“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. ”

That’s back to coming to God.
We start out sinful….

Is 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

and we walk towards God!

1 Peter 2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

Prov 4:18 New International Version(©1984)
The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

John 6:39-40 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

We were captives – by the resurrection power of Jesus Christ, we are set free!
We were in darkness – and by the finished work of Jesus Christ, we are brought into the Light!
We were slaves to sin and death, and by the grace of God’s own gift of Jesus Christ, we are dead to sin, and alive In Christ!

Luke 4:18 New American Standard Bible (©1995)
“THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED,(Is 42:7, 49:9 & 61:1)

John 1:1– In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:4-5 – In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
John 1:9-10[That] was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
John 1:12-13 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name:
Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

2 Cor4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

1 Pet 2:9 But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Col 1:12-13 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated [us] into the kingdom of his dear Son:
In whom we have redemption through his blood, [even] the forgiveness of sins:

If you are in agreement as to where we all started, and that we needed to face the cross…then we can go on from there, to determine where are WE starting. at the cross.

Heb 10:22GOD’S WORD® Translation(©1995)
We have been sprinkled [with his blood] to free us from a guilty conscience, and our bodies have been washed with clean water. So we must continue to come [to him] with a sincere heart and strong faith.

“So we must continue to come to him…”

Col 3:1-3 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

We are all on a path, headed from darkness to light…shining brighter every day – until the full day – until Christ appears

Col 3:4 When Christ, [who is] our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

We are all on our own path – but it is a path that is created for us, with guidance from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
So – wherever we are starting from, we must walk in the light:
1 john 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

And, since we will trip and fall along our paths toward the Light…HE gave us THIS promise:
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Where are YOU starting? I’ve been on this path for 30 some years…and some days, I feel like I’m starting right back at the cross. The good thing of that is, I never get too far from the cross, but, as I learned yesterday, I’m never too far from heaven, either! He is with me, ALWAYS!

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

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