I have traveled a lot for work over the last several years. Some destinations are just up the road, others are half way across the country. Some stops are so gorgeous that I can’t help but to bust out in a line or two of, “God Bless America” while driving, others are so monotonous that I get hypnotized by their blandness. I’ve been to big bustling cities and I’ve been to one-stoplight towns. I’ve eaten barbeque in Kansas City, Memphis, and Georgia and I still don’t know what all the debate is about-that savory, smoky, melt-in-your-mouth Texas brisket is the clear winner!
Through all of my travels I’ve learned one important rule-Follow. The. Directions.
This is an extremely basic idea but don’t let its simplicity cause you to miss its significance. It doesn’t matter how good your intentions are or how badly you want to make it to a certain location, you’re not going to arrive at your desired destination without following the directions. Period.
While this concept is certainly not breaking news to a seasoned tourist, a rookie 16 year old driver, or even a traveling toddler, we seem to overlook its significance when it comes to our lives. In the same way that good intentions won’t take me to Chicago if I started driving south from Dallas, good intentions without accompanying actions won’t take you to your desired destination.
You can’t lose weight, no matter how badly you want to, if you stop by Krispy Kreme every time the “Hot Doughnut” light is on. You will never get out of debt, no matter how many times you make it a New Year’s resolution, if you continually spend more than you earn. And you can never get a new job, no matter how incredible your resume is, if you never fill out an application. Good intentions without actions don’t take you to where you want to go, they leave you right where you are.
That’s because intentions don’t determine your destination, your path does.
Andy Stanley calls this “The Principle of the Path” (and has a great book that teaches on this concept in further detail). The path that you take determines your destination, not your intentions.
With that in mind, what path are you on? What destination are your thoughts, desires, and habits going to eventually lead you to? In a matter of days, months, and years the answer to that question will eventually be on display for all to see, just like a banner flying above your head.
Banners were important for the nation of Israel in the Old Testament. They were used to show where each of the 12 tribes of Israel were to stay while they wandered through the desert for 40 years. They were used as motivational cheerleader signs to encourage the Israeli soldiers to press on during war. And in Numbers 2:2 we are told that they were even used as a sort of decoration to be flown above each family’s tent while they camped in the desert during their years of wandering.
These banners were almost like a family crest and were made up of pictures, words, or even phrases that symbolized what the family stood for. All of Israel would see their neighbor’s banners as they walked throughout the camp and would know right away what each family held as important.
What do you want your banner to say as it flies above your life? What traits and qualities do you want your whole community to see when they look at you? However you answered these questions, it is important to remember that what is displayed on your banner will be determined by what path you are currently heading down rather than your wants, desires, and intentions.
Do you want people to know you as a loving person? You better be quick to, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3, NIV). Do you want them to know you as a generous person? Your life verse better be Acts 20:35 (NIV), “…It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Do you want your community to know you as a man of integrity? You better not forget Proverbs 10:9 (NIV) which says, “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.”
Whatever traits you want to see on the banner of your life, you must be sure to first examine what path you must take to get there because actions trump desires and intentions 10 out of 10 times.
So I’ll ask the question again, what traits do you want to see on your banner? And more importantly, what path do you need to take to get there?
Comments? Questions? Suggestions?
©Grant Gaines 2013
