Set up road signs; put up guideposts. Take note of the highway, the road that you take. (Jer. 31:21).
EVERY YEAR HIKERS GET LOST in the mountains and back country of the United States by failing to follow simple safety rules. One of the most important of these is to note prominent landmarks along the trail. They help hikers recognize the right course back, should they wander from the path.
Ancient Middle Eastern travelers set up pillars or heaped stones to mark their way through the desert and aid them in finding their way back home. Through Jeremiah, God told the Israelites that although they would be exiles in Babylon, one day they would return to their own country. He urged them to place landmarks along the route that would lead them home.
God has given us scriptural landmarks to guide us on our spiritual path. Two of them, repentance and confession, are key in getting us back on track should we stray. First John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Jesus is always waiting to intercede with the Father on our behalf. “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Heb. 4:16). The Bible is full of road signs and guideposts. Wise disciples look for and follow each one.
To help you recall God’s landmarks, memorize Scripture.
Nancy Reinke lives in the Colorado Rockies with her artist husband. She enjoys writing, hiking, grandmothering, and encouraging others.
