Recently our eldest, Meri has
completed her drivers test. She
is now on the road. Can you
remember when you first began to drive? The
thrill of driving is one that completes your identity as an adult.
You can now drive and go where you want and most of the time when you
want. We have welcomed the
additional driving abilities and assistance in our daily routines of life.
But along with the abilities and privileges come the responsibility and
accountability of being a licensed driver.
We are a going society. Where
have you gone? Where are you
planning on going? Where will you
go? Do you feel like traveling
on? Do you remember the old
gospel favorite?
I
Feel Like Traveling On
verses by Rev. William Hunter, D.D.
My
heavenly home is bright and fair,
I feel like traveling on
Nor pain nor death can enter there
I feel like traveling on
Refrain:
I feel like traveling on
I feel like traveling on
My heavenly home is bright and fair,
I feel like traveling on
Let others seek a home below
I feel like traveling on
Which flames devour or waves o'erflow
I feel like traveling on
REFRAIN
Be mine a happier lot to own
I feel like traveling on
A heavenly mansion nigh the throne
I feel like traveling on
REFRAIN
Although like Lazarus sick
and sore
I feel like traveling on
My heavenly mansion is secure
I feel like traveling on
REFRAIN
The Lord has been so good to
me
I feel like traveling on
Until that blessed home I see
I feel like traveling on
Scripture
Text:
Psalm 84 1
How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord
Almighty! 2
My soul yearns, even faints, for the
courts of the LORD; my heart and
my flesh cry out for the living God. 3
Even the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young— a place
near your altar, O Lord Almighty,
my King and my God. 4 Blessed
are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. Selah 5
Blessed are those whose strength is
in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. 6
As they pass through the Valley of
Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with
pools. 7
They go from strength to strength,
till each appears before God in Zion.
I.
Do you want to travel on?
II.
We are a traveling generation?
We travel constantly. Travel-Minded
Americans-
Americans have traditionally
been a mobile people. Between one-fifth and one-quarter of the native
population recorded in every census for the last 100 years had been born in
some state other than the one of residence at the time of the census.
In 1940, almost 27 million
persons in this country had moved away from the states where they were born.
In 1950 almost one-fifth of those aged one and older were living in houses
different from the homes they had occupied one year before.
The migration
characteristically has been from East to West, from South to North, and from
rural areas to cities. Both kinds of movement are still continuing. Traveling
People-
Stand on any busy street
corner, or expressway, and watch the cars go by. Air terminals are crowded
with passengers; the air lanes are filled with planes. Many people travel
farther now on a weekend than their fathers did in a lifetime.
III.
Where are we going, really going?
Are you going to take a trip in
the near future? What about in
your spiritual life? Where are
you going? Are you going where
the Lord wants you to go? A
Top Industry--Tourism is among the top three industries in 46 states, and is
number one in Florida, Nevada, and Hawaii. It’s the second leading industry
in the U.S. Only grocery sales pump more money into the economy. The tourist
industry employs four million Americans and grosses more than $61 billion a
year.
IV. We are traveling
whether we realize it or not.
Where are you going? But
they haven’t realized that the earth is spinning at 1000 miles per hour.
The earth is rotating around the sun at 80 miles per hour.
We are traveling through time at 60 seconds per minute, 60 minutes per
hour, 24 hours per day and 365 days per year.
V.
Would you rather just stay home?
Some people are content and proud of the fact that they have been born,
lived, and may even die in the same house.
Some people don’t want to be bothered.
They would choose to stay put.
VI.
Would you want to go with the Lord?
Repent of your ways and set some goals with the Lord.
We want to go to heaven. The
Psalmist spoken of loving the dwelling of the Lord.
VII.
Don’t forget the trip is half of the fun.
Going with the Lord is a pilgrimage of faith.
Knowing that you are following the Lord’s plan for your life.
VIII.
How are you going to get
there? Have
you read the map? Pass through
the valley of weeping with the Lord. Then
that dry valley becomes a wonderful oasis in a dry and thirsty land.
The water of the Spirit of the Lord refreshes your soul.
Have you tapped into the wonderful refreshing Spirit of the Lord? Let the Lord give you his strength. From day to day or strength to strength the Lord gives
us just what we need to continue on the journey.
IX.
Where is the Lord leading you
in your life? Rise
above the natural life to the supernatural life with the Lord and with his
strength. This is where the Lord
dwells in your world. This is
where he gives the strength you need to go on to the next day. This isn’t the safe way or the easiest way of living.
This is the best and most exciting way.
This is the way that you will be able to make the maximum amount of
good with the Lord. Take a look
ahead of you. What do you see?
Is that where you want to end up?
At the end of your life we will all meet the Lord.
Some in judgment and some in glory.
Where will you stand? Where
are you going? Where are we going
as a church? Are we going to go
with the Lord?
4
Blessed
are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. Selah 5
Blessed are those whose strength is
in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.
Will
you go where the Lord is leading you? This
is the path of blessing and happiness. This
is the way that you will be the most happy in all of your life. The path to heaven and heaven on earth is a pilgrimage with
the Lord. Will we go with the
Lord today?