You Don’t Have to Walk Around in a Fog

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:5-7)

Several years ago I went on a deer hunting trip with my brother-in-law. Our excursion took us to Mt. Davis, the highest mountain in Pennsylvania. After arriving at what looked like a likely spot to bag a buck, we set off in different directions agreeing to arrive back at our RV at a predetermined time.

I walked a good way out and finally sat down at the base of a tree across from what looked like a deer crossing. Originally, getting back out of the forest didn’t seem like much of a problem since it was a fairly clear morning and I could easily follow the trail I had used to arrive at my destination. A complication soon came up however as a thick fog descended on the mountain. Realizing it was probably only a passing cloud I simply decided to wait it out. And before long, the cloud moved on and I was able to see again. This process repeated itself several times during the morning. Many times I could not see more than 20-30 feet around me. The fog would come and the fog would go. I would merely sit down, let the cloud pass, and then start watching and waiting again for my prized trophy.

On one occasion the fog seemed like it was lasting a little longer than the other episodes. As I sat waited this time, I dozed off. While I was “resting my eyes” a light snow fell. When I woke up everything looked completely different. The snow had changed the look of the landscape. And on top of that, the fog which had settled around me hadn’t gone away this time. I completely lost my sense of direction. Unfortunately, I hadn’t had the foresight to take a compass with me and I soon realized that I was in danger of getting lost. I started walking around – literally in a fog. After walking around awhile I finally saw an area I thought I recognized. I walked to it only to see my own footprints in the snow. No matter how I studied the landscape, nothing seemed to make sense to me. I couldn’t see more than 30 yards in any direction and I just couldn’t find a reference point that I recognized.

For the longest time, the only point of reference that I could establish was my own footprints. So I finally came up with a plan. I would walk out a bit in the fog and if that direction didn’t seem right to me, I would walk back and start out in a new direction, using where I had been as a guide. Finally after about 3 hours of guess work, the fog lifted and I was able to find a road. Another 2 hour walk and I was back at the camper again.

Do you want to know what I discovered during that experience? Following your own footsteps is not a good way to get found. Following my own footprints just revealed to me how lost I really was. I discovered a whole lot of wrong paths to take, but the problem was I wasn’t able to discern the right path to take. And on top of that, if it would have snowed again, my plan would have been useless because my tracks would have been covered. What I needed was a guide, someone who knew the terrain and had experience with the area that I didn’t have.

There are many times in every person’s life when we are prone to wonder, “Am I going in the right direction?” We can only follow our own footsteps for so long before we realize that our own wisdom often leaves us in a fog. Yet some of us stubbornly insist that we can find the right path ourselves. The truth is we all need a guide to show us the way.

In the passage above Thomas is asking Jesus for directions. What was Thomas really saying? Was it true that Thomas didn’t know where Jesus was going? By this time Jesus had told the disciples a number of times where he was going – Thomas’ problem wasn’t that he didn’t know where Jesus was going – he just didn’t want to accept what Jesus had said. A typical “guy thing” is being lost but refusing to acknowledge the need for directions. Thomas was like that. In his pride he wanted to figure it out for himself. But Jesus knew that this is one issue he couldn’t figure out by himself. No one finds their way home without following the path Jesus has provided. And the path he has provided, leads directly to the cross.

Now make sure you catch this; the way home leads to the cross. If the path you are on doesn’t lead you to the cross, you will face years of walking around in circles in a fog. Oh, there have been many others who said they knew the way - Buddha, Mohammed, Confucius – the list goes on and on. But the path each one of them lays out leaves a person just as lost and confused as when they start to follow. Only Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. Jesus is the only one who offers clear direction. Every other route ultimately ends in terrible disappointment. So good judgment dictates is not wise to trust any other path. Do no trust Buddha. Do not trust Mohammed. Do not trust Confucius. Do not trust any deity mankind has created out of imagination and speculation. And for goodness sake, do not trust your own incomplete wisdom.

Put your trust in Christ alone, the Faithful Guide who proved his power and wisdom by conquering the grave on your behalf. He alone can show you the way home.

Praying for your next step,

PT