Do you like to collect things? Maybe it is stamps, coins, dolls or stuffed animals. There are lots of interesting and useful things to collect. We enjoy collecting maps.
Not long ago we started out from New Jersey on a trip to Florida and then to Texas. Each time we crossed a state line we would stop at the Visitors’ Center to pick up a map. On the day we crossed from Mississippi into Louisiana we collected our 9th state map of that trip. If we didn’t waste any time we still would be able to cross into Texas and get another one from the Texas Tourist Center before it closed at 5 p.m. So we hopped back into our comfy little car and were on our way.
Shreveport was the last city in Louisiana before Texas. As we drove through it the sky was getting blacker and blacker. Then just as we crossed into Texas the clouds broke and sent down such torrents of rain that we could barely see the sign, “REST AREA AND TOURIST CENTER —1 /2 MILE.” It was still raining just as hard when we drove into the rest area. But we wanted that map!
As I buttoned my coat and tied my hood snugly under my chin I said to my husband, “As soon as I open this door you pull the lever to open the trunk lid, okay?” I got out of the car, ran to the back, grabbed the big umbrella that was at the very front of the trunk, pushed the button on its handle, and it popped open. But in those few seconds my shoulders were soaked. Still, we wanted that map!
I hurried around to the driver’s door, and Earl climbed out under the shelter of the umbrella. Then together we waded up the walkway that was rapidly becoming a river, getting our feet soaked. The attendants gave each of us a map for braving the rain.
Did you know that God has a map for each one of us? It’s His holy Word, the Bible. I wonder if everyone reading this story has a Bible? If not, don’t let anything stop you from getting one and from studying it. (If you do not have a Bible of your very own to read, you may write to the address on the back page for a free New Testament [Matthew through Revelation]. We will need your name and complete address.) In Psalms 19:1010More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. (Psalm 19:10) and 11 when David was speaking about God’s words he said, “More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is Thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.”
We not only WANTED that map of Texas, we NEEDED it. How could we get to Tyler without knowing the way? And only the map of Texas could show us the way. None of the other state maps could help us. And how can we get to heaven without knowing God’s way, since it is His home? The Lord Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” John 14:66Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6). There are many other instructions in God’s Word, and we need to know every one of them if we are to travel through this life the right way. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and light unto my path.” Psalms 119:105105NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psalm 119:105).
An hour later when we were coming close to Tyler, Earl put his hand in his shirt pocket and got out a little card with directions on it.
Before we left New Jersey he had called his brother and asked him exactly how to reach his house. Sometimes we must not only read our Bibles but we must talk things over with the Lord Jesus if we want to be able to live as He wants us to. In fact, the Lord Jesus says in Luke 18:11And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; (Luke 18:1), “Men ought always to pray, and not to faint [give up].”
Here is a good prayer from God’s Word for each of us to pray every day. “Order my steps in Thy word: and let not any iniquity [sin] have dominion [power] over me.” Psalms 119:133133Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. (Psalm 119:133).
ML-09/17/1989