Spiritual Roads
[Preached May 18, 2008; Based on Psalm 107: 1-4, 10, 17, 23]
Four roads comprise our walk with Christ – the Damascus Road (conversion), the Jericho Road (service), the Calvary Road (suffering), and the Emmaus Road (fellowship). (Charles Allen, The Charles L. Allen Treasury, 17-18)
I heard someone recently say: Science is the search for truth and religion is the search for meaning. How is your religious/spiritual journey? I am 52 years old and have recently celebrated the 37th anniversary of my conversion. My spiritual journey continues to be challenging and anything but boring. Have you given much thought to your spiritual journey? What road are you traveling and are you traveling alone?
Today’s word for meditation gives Charles Allen’s perspective regarding four spiritual roads. Have you traveled these four roads? I believe I’ve been on three of the four; what about you?
· The Damascus Road – the scene of the Apostle Paul’s conversion
· The Jericho Road – the setting for the Good Samaritan’s act of service
· The Calvary Road – the place of Christ’s suffering and death, and
· The Emmaus Road – the location where two disciples met up with Jesus on Easter afternoon, but didn’t realize who he was. They experienced fellowship with each other and the Risen Christ.
For centuries, the only way to “meet” Jesus (come to know him) was to hear of him, as someone spoke of him. Then, in the 1500’s, thanks to the printing press, it was possible to read of him. In the middle of the last century, the broadcast medium was born and it was possible to listen and watch someone speak to you about Jesus in the privacy of your home. More recently, we entered the digital age and we can interact with people around the world instantaneously. People are meeting spouses and the Savior on the Internet.
Psalm 107 is a wondrously rich Psalm that presents at least four Spiritual Roads:
· Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle.... (4) Wandering in desert wastelands or the Wilderness Way – searching for companionship – these feel all alone and seek someone to walk with them!
· Some sat in darkness and the deepest gloom, prisoners suffering in iron chains.... (10)
Traveling on Darkness Drive – searching for direction and freedom – these feel trapped by addictions. It seems as though there is no way out.
· Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.... (17) Those on Affliction Avenue – searching for healing and hope.
· Others went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters.... (23) Those on Affluent Avenue – conquering the world and yet, searching for fulfillment.
The psalmist urges everyone to cry out to the Lord and give thanks for the Lord is good; his lovingkindness is everlasting. Let’s look closer at each of these four roads:
This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it." Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asked. "How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" [“I need some help. I need a friend.”] So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?" Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. (Acts 8:27-31, 33-35).
Some people in our world are traveling down Gaza Road and feel lonely, alienated, small and insignificant. They are open to God, but need someone to help them, someone who’s been down the road before and has met Jesus. Could that be you?
Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. [He was clearly an antagonist to the faith.] As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” (Acts 9:1-6)
The Damascus Road is for those who are hurting, addicted, angry, burdened, or victimized, who need to be set free. These folks need the raw truth of the Gospel since their lives are rather ragged. They honestly can’t see that they are hurting others with their lives... that they are hurting Jesus with their lives.
Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem... As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?" (Luke 24: 13, 28-32)
Travelers on the Emmaus Road are grieving; life hurts. They may feel lost, confused, anxious, or just plain empty. They need a mentor (a coach) to guide them through ambiguity. These folks want to believe, they just don’t see how.
Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.'" But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” (Luke 19:1-10)
Some people in our world and many people in our nation are traveling down Affluent Avenue and though we are amongst the wealthiest people in the world, we feel as though we need just a little more. When these folks realize there’s bound to be more to life, they are set free and life turns into more of a celebration.
So, which road do you find yourself traveling? You may be on more than one – one as a traveler and one as a helper. Where are life’s pressures taking you and where is God leading you? The good news is that God can find you on whichever road you travel.
Bill Easum is a United Methodist Elder in the Southwest Texas Conference and he gives these helpful suggestions:
1. People do not want to talk about religion; they do want to talk about spirituality (an attitude or orientation to daily living).
2. People do not want to listen to professional experts; they do want to learn from spiritual travelers. This is born out over and over... tell others your story... don’t be deceived that people would rather hear a preacher!
3. People do not want to talk about divine abstractions; they want to talk about Jesus – a God who can touch and be touched.
You used to hear a lot about the Kingdom of God as some utopian goal for social reform. People are not interested in some Ecclesiastical Christ. Understanding church structure is not nearly as important as experiencing God’s grace because spiritual yearnings are deep-down aches of the heart. For example:
1. Zacchaeus yearned to be changed – he even climbed a tree!
2. The hemophiliac woman yearned to be whole - risked reaching out to touch Jesus
3. Lazarus yearned to be free – that is, once Jesus restored his life!
4. The 12 disciples yearned for mentors/spiritual guides – left everything to follow Jesus
5. The woman caught in adultery yearned for a second chance – even in her public shame
Do you yearn? Do you agree with me that it’s more important:
My brothers and sisters, each of us is on a spiritual road, whether or not I’ve described your pathway. Wherever you expect your journey to lead you, Jesus longs to walk with you. Jesus is walking with you!
One more biblical account... you can tell a preacher is moving away when he tries to preach the whole Bible in a 20 minute sermon...
When it was evening, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and [Jesus] was alone on the land. Seeing [the disciples] straining at the oars, for the wind was against them, at about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea; and He intended to pass by them. But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were terrified. But immediately He spoke with them and said to them, "Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid." Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped; and they were utterly astonished... (Mark 6:47-51)