Roadmap to Heaven
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1 Corinthians 2:9-16
9. But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him," 10. God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11. For what person knows a man's thoughts except the spirit of the man which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. 13. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who possess the Spirit. 14. The unspiritual man does not receive the gifts of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15. The spiritual man judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16. "For who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.
If you don’t know how to read a map, how do you know the way from Point A to Point B? Well, we do have “Mapquest” today, and AAA, but are you ever 100% certain the directions you printed off don’t have any wrong turns? Do you not watch the signs along the way, and verify each instruction with what you see with your own eyes? Doesn’t your intuition kick in at some point, though? Don’t you have to make adjustments sometimes, when it’s obvious a right turn should be a left, or exit 25A should really be 25B?
No, I’m not planning a road trip, but I do spend a lot of time thinking about the course of my life. And that is what Paul is talking to the Corinthians about in these verses. To properly chart the course of our lives, we must rely upon Christ as our guide, our source of information, our “mapmaker.” We can’t always rely upon man-made, man-conceived, man-produced things. To live rightly, to get where we’re going, to stay on the straight and narrow path, we need to be sure we have charted the proper course. Paul warns us not to rely upon intellectual knowledge. He’s telling us that just because we understand the meaning of the words, doesn’t mean we have “intuitive knowledge.”
The Holy Spirit spoke to the prophets long ago. Before Christ, only a select few were privileged to obtain the deep, unfathomable wisdom and knowledge of God. When Jesus’ time on earth was done, God sent the Holy Spirit, first to the disciples, then to all the world—to anyone who would receive it! And once we receive it, we no longer live life by a man-made, man-conceived, man-produced roadmap. Because our destination changes! We seek heaven now. Nothing on this earth is more important than achieving that destination.
The Holy Spirit reveals the mind of God to us. We are co-heirs with Christ – imagine that! He died on the cross – he paid the price for all of man’s sin – all we are required to do is believe! It is unimaginable! But that’s what grace is: unimaginable! This amazing gift is the reason we now choose to live as spiritual men and women. We no longer conform to the ways of this world. We seek the higher truth, the greater purpose, the godly choice in everything we do. And we are guided by the divinely revealed truth, purpose and choice, through revelation from the Holy Spirit!
God is so amazing, isn’t He? When we look back into history, read these words, written 2000 years ago, and think of all that has happened since, we are able to see more clearly God’s hand in all of creation and in all of history. Our task – quite a bit more challenging, I might add – is to see His hand in our present – and think about the future that He has planned for us. Our final destination is heaven – what will you rely upon to find your way?
I hope you join me today in seeking the wisdom that is not gained from words written by man alone, but only when they come to life for us by the Holy Spirit’s indwelling. And that you always remember your final destination as you chart the course of your life.
Mary
