Article Tools
When I purchased my cell phone, I was excited to see that it came equipped with GPS. And not just because, as a guy, I would never have to ask for directions again. GPS, or Global Positioning System, is a satellite–based navigation system made up of twenty–four satellites placed into orbit by the U.S. Department of Defense. Originally intended for military purposes, its many useful features were made available for civilian use in the 1980’s.
GPS works in any weather conditions, anywhere in the world, twenty–four hours a day, and there are no fees to use it. Now when I want to go somewhere unfamiliar, I put in my location and destination and presto—a map with mileage and directions appears, and away I go. Daniel could not possibly have imagined the fulfillment of scripture he wrote in Daniel 12:4 about many running to and fro, and the ever increasing knowledge that assists that fulfillment.
Ponder the great accomplishments of the human race. There have been some incredible feats in the past century alone. Have these great technological advances and inventions ushered in world peace? Is there more harmony and love in the world as a result of the fancy gadgets that are brought to market every year? We like to pride ourselves in our innovations like GPS, but God has always been way out in front of humans with simple, understandable and practical solutions to man’s problems that technology can’t solve.
God utilizes His own form of GPS. God’s Positioning System is known as the Bible. It operates similarly to the satellite system, but with even better results. It provides real time solutions to everyday problems with lifetime results. Let’s put in our location and desired destination and see.
Location and destination
God’s people all have the same destination in mind: making it into God’s Kingdom. It’s helpful to know our exact current location even if we know the desired destination because the possible routes we choose from make a difference in our journey. Some routes are bumpier than others we might have chosen had we known beforehand. We are told by Christ in His words, “I will build my church” (Matt. 16:18). Notice He did not say “churches” or a church with a lot of branches with different ideas. This is important because this is our starting location. Anything short of a correct starting point results in a route we may not desire.
What would Christ’s church look like? God’s church would be very small in comparison to the mainstream churches of today. Christ states, “Fear not little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). Another identifying characteristic of God’s church would be that it would be keeping His commandments, and at times suffering persecution as a result.
God’s commandments are also part of God’s GPS, showing us the direction we should go. The commandments identify dead–end streets Christians should not be traveling. Does the church we attend keep the commandments, including the fourth one, God’s Sabbath? Christ tells us “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill” (Matt. 5:17). “Fulfill” here does not mean “to destroy.”
What else would describe the true church of God? Paul gives admonition to the Corinthian church that they all speak the same thing, unified with no divisions among them (I Cor. 1:10). Is this an accurate description of the church we attend? Christ also tells us to “enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matt. 7:14). It’s not always easy to be in opposition to the world, but God’s GPS leads His followers away from mainstream society. Can God identify us? Or do we, in our desire to fit in, look and act like the rest of the world? God’s church, because of human membership, has changed in appearance through history. But God never changes, and His GPS has always functioned perfectly (Heb. 13:8). We can locate God’s church by following the descriptions He gives in the Bible. With the correct starting point, membership in God’s true church, God has provided the route to the Kingdom. Are we willing to accept His directions?
All climates and conditions
Just like traditional GPS systems, God’s GPS works in all climates and in any condition we find ourselves in physically and spiritually. Sometimes when we get off the route that God has laid out for us, or we get distracted with the environment around us and take a wrong turn, we may think our GPS is not functioning properly. We may ask the question, “What am I doing here and how did I get here?” We then find ourselves in harsh conditions and our lives can become chaotic. This is cause for concern, but the solution is determining your current location and getting back on the proper route. Whether your current location is somewhere between a rock and a hard place, or in the court of a prison as Jeremiah found himself, God says, “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” (Jer. 32:27).
No matter how bad it may seem, God is always there for our help. He says, “I will never leave you or forsake you” (Heb. 13:5). He is always willing and able to help us get back on the track and to get moving in the right direction again. We do, however, have our part to play. We are admonished to seek the Lord while He may be found, and to return to God (Isa. 55:6–7). We do this by reading, studying and meditating on what God inspired to be written. It was written to help us find our way in a world that is filled with confusion, distractions and false hope. We must strive to completely return to God in all areas of our lives, not part of the way, but all the way.
Paul described the end–time environment that would affect Timothy’s life through to our day. Society would be filled with those that are “lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self–control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,” however they would have a form or an appearance of godliness (II Tim. 3:1–5). That is the description of the average movie, television show or newscast. The solution Paul gave Timothy is just as functional for us today as it was in the 60’s AD. We must continue in the things we have learned and proven; we must use the scriptures for much needed inspiration, self–correction and righteous instruction (II Tim. 3:14–17). If we will open up the Bible and follow God’s word, then this will provide us, once again, with a solid starting point heading for the Kingdom of God.
Anywhere, anytime
No matter our geographical location in the world or the time of day, God’s GPS is functioning and ready for use. We have instant access to God’s word in just about any language. We live in an age without excuse when it comes to reading God’s word. I have multiple translations on my cell phone that I can pull up in just seconds. With so much instant and easy access, why do so few use God’s word to help stabilize and direct their lives? Many today feel the Bible is irrelevant for twenty–first century problems. Is that true? The question is asked, “Is there anything new under the sun?” (Ecc. 1:9).
We see constant changes in the technological landscape, but the fundamental problems which have continued to plague societies throughout history have remained the same. These problems are spiritual in nature and can only be solved with God’s help—through God’s word, the Holy Bible. God has witnessed all the struggles that man has faced through the centuries. His solutions are the same today as they were long ago. The problems are the same; only the faces and locations have changed. God outlined for the children of Israel a juxtaposition of blessings and curses (Deut. 28). Those problems and solutions apply to us today as modern Israel. We can implement these solutions right away and begin receiving blessings right away by simply accessing God’s word anywhere and anytime.
Just like traditional GPS there are no hidden fees to access God’s word, but God does require obedience to His word in order to receive the many blessings He wants to shower upon us. Christ asked the question, “but why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46). We now have an obligation to obey. When we apply God’s way and see the fruits, we want to obey. God wants us to live happy productive lives and has supplied us with His word to do just that. All we have to do is access it, follow the step–by–step instructions that God lays out, and we will find ourselves living a more abundant and spiritually prosperous life heading straight for the Kingdom of God.
So power up God’s Positioning System! Put in your location and the Kingdom of God as your destination, and get ready for the trip of a lifetime.