Anyone know the way to Damascus?

I am the worst at following a map or a set of directions, even when I’m using my cell phone to help me stay on the right road, I will second guess the navigation system on the phone and try a different route.  This only manages to get me very lost and usually going the long way to get to my destination.  It’s when we think we know a better way that we find we are traveling in the wrong direction, making our trip harder and longer.  God used a journey taken by the Apostle Paul, formerly Saul, to give him directions on how to not only change direction, but change his life of persecuting Christians for their belief.  The conversation went something like this.

“As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven.  Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’  And he said ‘who are You, Lord?’  ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’  So he, trembling and astonished, said, ‘Lord, what do you want me to do?’

Then the Lord said to him, ‘Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.’” 
 Acts 9:1-6(NKJV)

Here’s a thought.  What if Paul, formerly Saul, was in a hurry and took a shorter route, sidestepping the opportunity to run into Jesus on the road?  What if he thought he knew a quicker route and took it, getting lost in the process?  We will often do this in our lives.  We will look for the shortcut or the least demanding way of getting somewhere and take this more comfortable, more palatable route in order to avoid our God.  We all know the right road to take, the route that will get us to our ultimate destination in heaven, yet we still want to take the shortcut, or take a different route because we feel it will save time and effort.  We should be thinking about how God chose to have Saul travel this particular route in order to meet up with Jesus along the way. 

We all have several roads and routes to choose from when we are traveling down our “road to Damascus.”  We all have those opportunities to take the shortcut, or the easier road in order to make our lives more comfortable and more enjoyable.  God is not a God of shortcuts, nor is He willing to change His route because we have changed ours.  God will lead us down the right road, but the trick is listening and believing.  Our God is constant and sure and can be trusted to give good directions.  Our God is very aware of the different routes we will try in order to make our trip through life easier, but He only wants us to travel one, that being His route.  God has mapped out the road that leads to heaven.  He has given us these directions in His Holy Word.  Now it’s up to us to follow His directions.  These are written so that anyone can follow them.  His routes are laid out plain as day for anyone to use.  He has the destination ready and waiting.  Are we willing to travel His road, or do we feel we know a better way?  

I think I missed my turn back there!

“in the world, not of the world”