In general people throughout time have struggled with the questions “What is my purpose?” “Why am I here?” “What is the meaning of life?” From the early philosophers to present day thinkers, we all have this feeling that we are here for a reason or have something we are supposed to achieve. I love that the bible answers these questions on a grand scale – we are here to bring glory to God and be in relationship with him. But even for Christians, we want more details . . . what am I supposed to do for God and how do I go about doing it. These are still nagging questions that we want answered, but how can we find the answers?
I have always been fascinated by the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. The Israelites not only had a god that had showed his dominance over all of the Egyptian gods and miraculously saved the whole community from slavery, they had a god that dwelt among them – right in the middle of their camp. His presence was visible by day and by night. Even after they continued to be disobedient and were handed out a pretty stiff punishment of 40 years of wandering, God still stayed with them and gave guidance. Read this passage from Exodus.
36 In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; 37 but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted. 38 So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the Israelites during all their travels.
Exodus 40
This is amazing! When I read this passage I am jealous that it was so easy for them to know where and when to move. That is what I need. A cloud to show me which way to go, when to stay put and be patient, where I should go next. If it moves, I move. If it stays, I stay. I am not along in feeling that we need a god that dwells among us and gives guidance on our next steps.
Guess what? We have that God! Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection we are able to host the presence of God, the Holy Spirit, in our hearts. We are living tabernacles with a living and active spiritual GPS. Just like my phone GPS, I don’t always listen to God’s guidance, or sometimes I take a wrong turn. The good news is that God is always ‘recalculating’ my route to make sure I get back on track. Learning to follow God’s lead takes practice, it isn’t as obvious as a cloud or fire, but we can get to where it is more natural. We can learn to listen to his still small voice and gentle nudging. So I urge you to trust him today and start following his guidance because Love Leads!
