Steady As She Goes

Keeping the ship on a steady course is important if you want it to get to the correct destination in good shape. This requires a steady hand at the wheel. Our life needs a good steady hand at the wheel if we are to make a steady course through this life.

Paul tells the saints in Corinth to be stedfast. 1 Cor. 15:58. To be unmoveable, from the spiritual course. There will be times that Satan will try to move you out of the path. It is at these times especially that you need to go to the Lord, and rely on His strength to keep you steady.

When you are on a ship, many different things can move you off course. It could be winds, or currents in the water, or even just slackness at the wheel. In our lives, there are many things that could move us off course. It could be bad doctrine, friends, worldly desires, or just plain slackness in our spiritual life. There are many Christians who are just drifting along in their spiritual life. They have no real direction, and no real purpose. They are tossed about. James warns us about this. James 1:6.

It is important to remember that we have a destination. We are not wandering aimlessly in this world. It is true that we are just traveling through, but we do have a final destination. When we get to our final destination, we want to be as close as we can to the One who takes us there, and the One who prepared it for us, and the One who made it possible, Jesus.

There is such a great danger today for young people to be moved off course by bad doctrine. There are many ‘teachers’ who are presenting false doctrines that are very damaging to the spiritual walk of believers. The only way to truly avoid being moved by bad doctrines, is to study the Word and allow the Holy Spirit to teach us. Of course, it is very important to be in a church that teaches the truth.

When the enemy comes to move you off course, remember what the psalmist says. “I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.” Psalm 16:8. “He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.” Psa. 121:3. We certainly can trust in God to keep us.

As you consider your friends, think about what direction they move you. Are they trying to keep you walking with the Lord? Are they moving you away from the Lord? Where will they be when you come to the end of your journey here? I know that friends are important. I know that we all have a desire to be accepted by our peers. I know something about the pressure from your peers. Please seek the Lord to guide you to friends that will encourage you in your spiritual life, and not move you out of the way.

As you look to the things that the world offers, remember that they are only temporary, and nothing else. No matter how useful or important they may seem, they are still temporary. 2 Cor. 4:18. 2 Pet 3:10. It may seem that others are better off than you. You may be tempted to chase after the riches or fame that the world offers. Look at Psalm 73.

God has not promised us a smooth sailing here. There are no promises of a nice smooth path. God does promise to keep us, and He wants us to trust in Him. He wants us to be steady on the way. We will certainly need to be anchored in the Word of God for this purpose. Please study your Bible every chance you get.

Gordon Crook