Francis Chan - The Road We Must Travel: A Personal Guide for Your Journey

The Road We Must Travel

The Road We Must Travel

A PERSONAL GUIDE FOR YOUR JOURNEY

Francis Chan

Eugene Peterson

Bill Hybels

and more

Copyright 2014 by Christianity Today International

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Scripture quotations are taken from the following sources: The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. The King James Version of the Bible (KJV). Public domain. The Message by Eugene H. Peterson (MSG). 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved. The New American Standard Bible (NASB), copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. The New English Translation (NET), copyright 19962006 by Biblical Studies Press, LLC. All rights reserved. The Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV, NIV1984), copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. The New King James Version (NKJV). Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The Holy Bible, New Living Translation (NLT), copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. The New Revised Standard Version Bible (NRSV), copyright 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The Revised Standard Version of the Bible (RSV), copyright 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The Living Bible (TLB), copyright 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Road We Must Travel is adapted from articles previously published by Christianity Today International and published in association with Christianity Today International.

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ISBN: 978-1-61795-291-3 (trade paper)

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CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest.

Psalm 139:3 TLB

Its all about the blue highlight.

The paper roadmaps earlier generations used to fold, crease, scribble on, repair with Scotch tape, and spread out on kitchen tables, shady picnic benches, and the front seats of station wagons and minivans have mostly faded from view.

Its all digital now.

The new maps are bright, intuitive, up-to-date, high-definition depictions glowing on the screens of smart phones, tablets, laptops, and sleek GPS units. These are maps that dont tear along the folds, wedge themselves between car seats, or soak up spilled coffee. You dont have to turn the glove compartment inside out to find them, and it doesnt take an engineering degree to refold them. You simply type in where you are, where you want to go and voil. There it is. The sweet certainty of what you wanted to know.

The blue highlight.

That calming, comforting, unmistakable sapphire line overlaying your course, illuminating your way, boldly directing you from Point A to Point B by the most efficient route.

Now if only we had a blue highlight in life.

Wouldnt that be something? Key in where you are right now, enter Heaven as your final destination, and push the button. And there before your appreciative eyes is the course for the rest of your lifefrom now until you step across the threshold of glory.

But it doesnt work that way, does it? Its good and its comforting to have a Point A and a Point B in our lives, but where is the line marking our route? Whats around the bend? Where are the intersections? Whats the mileage? Will it be an eight-lane freeway or a winding, backcountry road with a few bridges washed out along the way? How long will it take? Where are the exits, vistas, scenic byways, and rest stops?

We can ask all the specifics we like, but it really wont help. No one knows the precise route each of us will take to the other side. There may be a clear destinationand thank God for thatbut there is no blue highlight marking the course from here to there.

Sometimes thats okay, and sometimes it is not. We might even identify with Thomas who, in the grip of sorrow and fear, blurted out, Lord, we dont know where you are going, so how can we know the way?

Jesus, of course, told his anxious friend, I am the way.

And he is! But he doesnt show any of us a highlighted route. That remains a day by day, hour by hour, moment by moment proposition. As Solomon noted: The mind of man plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps.

We can, however, do this much: We can make sure we are prepared for the journey, no matter what the route might be. This book is all about that. Its not a road atlas, its more like a travelogue, with strong ideas and helps for navigating life. No, its not exactly like Rick Steves Does Europe, but here are twelve wise, seasoned, and companionable travelers who offer thoughtful, biblical counsel for our problems, solutions to common roadblocks, and welcome encouragement for the highway that lies ahead.

Yes, like it or not, were all on the same road trip.

But not all of us travel with peace and perspective.

With a little help from these friends, maybe we can.

PART I

ROADWORTHY

If your high-tech, carbon-fork road bike is stuck on the middle sprocket, giving you eight speeds instead of the expected twenty-four, its no time to launch out on a fifty-mile loop through rolling hills.

If you start out on a coast to coast road trip in your seen-better-days 1990s vintage Oldsmobile only to see a check engine light as you back out of your driveway, youd best give your plans some second thoughts.