Writing Your Story - Part 2

This podcast is made available by this increasing media as to the generosity of our support is your donation today means great podcast ideas remain available to help people look to God daily presentation at our nation today send out all day, every story has an orphan including the story of your life. If it feels like God is guarding your story through rough terrain. 34 Dr. driver Jeremiah explained what your story might not be easy.

Every chapter takes you closer to the distant ocean is always for you, with encouragement for your journey, his day message writing will still and thank you for joining us today. We are concluding our series of messages.

The life God blesses with this lesson and the one tomorrow.

Well let's get going now on finishing up our story. Let's finish writing her story in Proverbs chapter 4 look back again in Proverbs 4 in verse 18, and notice it says the path of the just is like the shining sun that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. The path of the just is like the shining sun that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.

I want to just leave you with five truths very quickly, as we walk through this, but listen carefully. First of all, our journey has a definite beginning.

Every journey starts somewhere. Amen. You don't just find yourself on a journey, you start and our journey with God begins when the light of his gospel shines into our heart and we become a Christian, you are not on the right path unless you have been exposed to the light of the word of God and you have accepted Christ as your Savior.

The child of God, begins his spiritual life by allowing the light of Jesus Christ to shine in his heart and he is born again, and he begins his journey. His path of the just on his path of life.

He now occupies. Wherever you are today as a Christian. What you been saying for years or you just came into the family of God. You on the path that leads to God. The Bible teaches that once you are on that path.

You can never get off. You can take little detours and get lost a little bit along the way with the destination is not in doubt. But all the path can be an interesting experience. As the story is being written. The process that is involved is simply coming to the light. How do we come to the light. First of all, for the conviction of our sin. Once again, light is involved. John 319 and 20 and this is the condemnation, that light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil for everyone practicing evil hates the light does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light and his deeds may clearly be seen that they have been done in God so he began on this path by conviction of your sin that you are not walking in the light life from God's word tells us that we are lost. Second Corinthians 4 verse forces whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe last the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ is the image of God, should shine on them. Let me ask you a question.

As the light of the gospel of God shines upon your heart. Have you come to a conclusion in your own life that you are a sinner and the light has exposed that and you are now convicted of your sin, and in the process of being convicted. You felt the compassion of the Lord Jesus who comes to you.

Notice secondly, the conviction of our sin results in the compassion of our Savior. Verse 46 of John 12 says I have come as a light into the world.

Why, that whosoever believes in me should not abide in darkness, walking along and you realize that you're not on the right path, the conviction of sin begins to take over in July we had to look up and you see that Jesus loved you enough to dine across any set his light into the world so that you might get on the right path and begin to know him. Then notice the condition of your salvation once again is related to light. John 812 then Jesus spoke to them again, saying I am the light of the world.

Now watch this. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness so you see there's a process of getting on this path become convicted of your sin, you realize that God sent his son, the light of the world into the world to be your Savior and then you begin to follow him. You accept him as your Savior. Jesus said I'm the way the truth and the life no man comes to the father except through me. I have visited the restaurant that has been started by a combination of the set three ministries in our urban ministry at shadow Mountain and this young lady over there by the name of Lisa who was a waitress.

Everybody who works at NMS now. Which by the way, is just beautiful restaurant and I'm not promoting a business because it's not really a business.

It's a ministry every dime that comes in there just goes back to help the people come up with street transition ministry and many these people who are serving their have been on the streets in the common get saved and they get cleaned up and they teach them the trade and they can get jobs as waitresses and cooks and all that food is great.

Sometimes a little bit slow but they're getting better at it in their learning. This young lady by the name of Lisa came over and sat at our table and she told us her story you talk about walking the path of darkness. She had been on the streets for three years she was hooked on drugs and couldn't get off of them.

She tried everything she knew to turn her life around. Every recovery program and nothing worked. And then she said someone told me about Jesus and she said this is what Jesus can do. She's got a beautiful smile you would never know by looking at her that she never spent one day on the streets. She said her family came to see her when they walked in the restaurant. They didn't know who she was. She said nobody really understands what Jesus can do. She says on what Jesus can do. He's the one who shines the light into the darkness. If you're not on the path.

His light is shining in your heart today. Every journey has a beginning, every story has a preface, are you on the path that leads to everlasting life. Our journey not only has a definite beginning. Our journey takes us to some difficult places. That's a surprise to many people. If you become a Christian you have difficulty, there's this old thought that goes around that. If you are a Christian all your problems are resolved.

When you become a Christian. Everything is cool and you don't have any stress anymore.

Well, nobody will process that really understands what being Christian is all about, nor have they read the Bible very carefully because the Bible does not give us a free pass from the moment of our salvation until we get the glory. The Bible says the narrow way is the way we walk that there are many who walk the other way.

But there are just a few that walked in their way.

Often there is ridicule. Often there is resistance.

I want you to notice that the path of the just sometimes can be difficult but is a protected journey. The path of the just is like the shining lights as the Proverbs that shines ever brighter into the perfect day the way of the wicked is like darkness. They do not know what makes them stumble the way of the light in the way of darkness are clearly marked out in this passage of Scripture, the path that has the light is the SafePath the path on which the wicked make their way is the path of darkness and trouble. Would you rather be on a path with a lot of people.

It's dark, short, narrow path with a few people were there is light, it's a no-brainer is and yet so many people don't understand that principal in the fourth chapter of the book of Proverbs wisdom is brought out most personified in wisdom speaks as a father to his son and says this in the fourth chapter, verses 10 through 12 here, my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life will be many. I have taught you in the way of wisdom.

I have loved you in the right paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, and when you run, you will not stumble.

What a wonderful thing to be able to say you've let your children in the right paths those Proverbs 1810 the name of the Lord is a strong tower the righteous run to it and are safe. Psalm 3723 and 24. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he delights in his way. Does he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down for the Lord upholds him with his hand in Job 2310.

He knows the way that I take when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold on those passages say they all say they were on the right path.

If we have trusted Christ, but don't let anyone try to tell you that that path is without difficulty. That is a bad piece of information. It's bad information, because it's false information and just in these few verses I've read you can understand that the path of the just is not an easy path is the right path and it is the one that brings ultimate joy and eternal life, but if you're going to be discouraged the first time you hit a bend in the road you will be discouraged. Most of your life and one of his earlier books, John Eldridge wrote something that illustrates this very well. The first book I remember that he wrote was called the sacred Romance and in this book he says that as a young boy around the time my heart began to suspect that the world was a fearful place and that I was on my own to find my way through it. I read the story of a Scottish discus thrower from the 19th century. He lived in the days before the professional trainers and developed his skills alone in the highlands of his native village even made his own discus from the description he read in a book. What he didn't know was that the disc is used in competition was made of wood and had an outer rim of iron was. Not aware of that. So he made his discus out of solid metal and it weighed almost 4 times as much as the discus that was used in the competition.

This commitment Scotsman marked out in his field. The distance of the current record holder and the longest discus throw that it ever been tried and accomplished, and he put this mark out there and he went out with his metal discus and he trained every day and every night to the burden of this extra weight, becoming very, very good. He reached the point at which he could throw his iron discus the record distance and a lot further. He was ready, so he traveled south to England for his first competition.

When he arrived at the games. He was handed the official wooden discus, which he promptly threw like a saucer. He set a new record distance so far beyond those of competitors that no one could touch him for many years, he remained the uncontested champion and then Eldridge wrote this in his book something in my heart connected with this story. So that's how you do it train under a great burden if ever there was a story that illustrates what it's like on the path of the just train under burden. You learn how to carry more than you thought you could ever carry you find strength in your life.

You did know was there and feel like God is up to something and what it is and you find yourself doing things that go way beyond your own personal capacity and perhaps even your tele-quotient is a way that come from God is building you up and is giving you things to carry in your finding out the sometimes trust us with great burdens so that we then can be those who help others who have great burdens. The journey sometimes a journey that takes us to difficult places. Notice thirdly progress is a journey which is also defining experience read again. Verse 18, Proverbs 4, but the path of the just is like a shining light that shines brighter unto the perfect day. Did you know that is impossible for you to be on the path and not influence others around you when you shine and you shine ever brighter. You will always impact others. Philippians 215 speaks of us as being those who shine as lights in the dark world. You are the light of the world.

A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. You don't take a lamp and put it under a bushel. As a Christian on the path that leads from your conversion to your coronation. There will be others who will see you and it will be a defining moment for them. Notice what it says in Matthew 514 and 16.

We are the light of the world we shine a light before men are like shine. We don't make it shine. God makes it shine and the result is that people see our good works and glorify our father was in heaven.

So the Bible tells us that our journey is a definite beginning. Are you on the path.

It's a journey that has some difficulty along the way are you accepting the challenges God sends are you throwing a heavier discus than you need to so that when the time comes, you'll be able to outdistance everyone.

Notice also.

It's a developing experience.

Our journey as a developing experience. Read the verse again the path of the just is like the shining sun that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. Did you know that as you walk along this path toward the Lord. Watch this, the closer you get to him. The more you become like him. As you walk with the Lord Jesus your past starting back here when you confessed him and you start walking toward him. If you really walk with him every day. The closer you get to him. The more you will become like him.

There's a little disconnected because the closer you get to him. The more you realize how unlike him.

You are but in reality, the closer you get to him. The more like him. You become. Until ultimately, the Bible says you shine brighter and brighter until the perfect day and we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is your wonder how it is that older people who walk with the Lord.

All these years almost have a glow on their face been around people like that people just walk with the Lord and love the Lord and some people who get all have a growl on their face, but others have a glow on their face and when you walk with the Lord, and you spent time with him every day and you on this pathway you are writing your story you taking your journey. The closer you get to him.

The more you appear to be like him and that's what the world is waiting to see you know sometimes when you see people that say they been in the church all of their life and they end up being grouchy complaining or people wonder why would anybody want that. Why would anybody want to have anything that we can turn out that way friends.

I quit making excuses for myself and for everyone else, if, as you grow in the Lord you're not getting more like him. Something's not connected right you can't just say well that's my personality or that's just what I am life.

It's time for everybody. This journey takes us to the Lord is a journey that grows us in righteousness and holiness so that it shines brighter and brighter as we get to the final day.

I want you to notice. Finally, that our journey has a determined destination. What is the destination of our journey.

Listen to it is the perfect day to have a perfect day now nobody's ever had a perfect day.

We have perfect storms.

We don't have perfect days, but the Bible says that if you're on the path of having trusted Christ in the light to shine in your heart. You are headed toward watch this the perfect day and that day is a day that will last forever and ever and never be tarnished by one in perfection. That's the goal. Is it worth it. Absolutely. Would you want to go any other way. No way the Bible says there's a way that seems right unto a man, but the end thereof is the way of death. So I want to share with you today.

It is this you are headed toward a day like no day you can imagine, but you have to walk on the path to get there. Someone gave me these words. Life is a story in volumes three the past, the present and the yet to be. The first is finished and right away. The second were reading day by day. The third and last of volume 3 is locked from site in eternity were writing a story day by day, the past of our story has already been written and there are no erasers available, but there is forgiveness and if your story in the past has some bad chapters. The whole deal about salvation is that God forgives all that he doesn't make done things undone.

That's a mistake that people sometimes make. He can take away the pain and the guilt of what you've done but you can't take away what you've done the scars often will still be there. The result of it will still be there to say anything less than that is dishonest and unfair with the Scripture. But watch the past is over here living in the present. Now you writing a chapter every day. Don't let what's happened in the past. Color what you're writing now right every chapter now for the grace of God and understand it as you write today's chapters. Watch this tomorrow what you wrote today will be in the past and tomorrow you can say a lot better things about your past and what happened back here, and then realize that one day you can open up the whole book able to read the beginning all the way through to the end. I've already read the last chapter of God's book and it ends pretty good. Years ago we were in the throes of the decision about whether we would come to California and Don and I wrestled with that for two years trying to determine whether or not this is the right choice we made that choice we follow his direction on that path we brought with us four children and because of the decision we made back there following the Lord brought us here all of her children met their spouses here. All of them finish their education here. Some of them still live here would like to go back sometimes and think what would be like if we stayed there while the Lord could've done anything he wanted. But God is up to something good in your life and all he wants you to do. Listen to me now still get off the path. If you stay on the path will unfold a story for you this be on any dream you could ever have got so much more plan for you than you could ever imagine wanting you simply to submit to him and let him write the story, God's writing my story is letting me participate and sometimes friends. I don't know what's going because I haven't gotten to the last chapter.

Yet in one of these days we get to heaven. Listen, he's gonna write the last chapter of our earthly existence and when we read it to say all man I know that and then what happens is you start thinking back through all of this is unfortunately we don't get to understand all that today, but we know listen to me.

We know the author don't we know he do if all things well and he's got a plan for each of our lives.

Let's ask God to help us stay on the path and write a chapter in our lives so that when we get to review this at the end. Our thoughts will be man great chapter that was thank you Lord. Amen. And you know it's interesting friends.

If you're still here which you are you and me listening you still have for me story left somewhere when you think your story was her has been whether you like what it's told you or not you can start a clean chapter today you can make the rest of your story the best of your story that you will consider doing that as a result of our teaching today. Tomorrow going to talk about eight spiritual blessings from Ephesians chapter 1. Thank you for being part of the Turning Point family. See you tomorrow… Today Regina from Shadow Mountain Community Church and Dr. David Jeremiah, the senior Boston. Would you like to tell us have Turning Point minutes this to you. Please write to us at any point PO Box 3838, San Diego, CA 92163 or visit our website. It Jeremiah/writing your copy of Jack countrymen's new book, God's blessings just for you is 100, inspirational, leaving him reflections is yours for a gift of any amount you can also download the free Turning Point mobile app for your smart device for searching your app store for the keywords Turning Point ministries instant access to programs and results visit David Jeremiah Dalton/radio the unvarying hopefully join us tomorrow as we conclude this series the lifeguard blessed Turning Point.

Jeremiah taking time to listen to all