Where Do I Go from Here

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Where Do I Go from Here

Mark 1:14-18 King James Version (KJV)
14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
16 Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.
18 And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.

Today’s title is taken from another hymn sung by a gifted man, whose life was short, and whose legacy is large. Well recognized by any and all who have heard the songs he left behind, songs that for the most part were secular in nature, yet whose rendering of the gospel remains well beloved by the few who paid attention to what was given through his gift, those hymns still ring in memory and in heart as they ask and answer timeless questions with the prayers within the words contained within them.
This particular song asks the seemingly complex question that is asked daily by each of us as that daily life gives ever new reason to ask it.
The answer to that question is not as complex as it would seem as it is answered with the single word, forward.
Forward in the direction established by our Creator, toward the end of the journey each of us takes along the timeline established by him for that journey.
The things asked for in the song that will stop the questioning are the answers to the question itself, and are found only by those truly listening and observing the answer that has been given.


Where Do I Go from Here
Where do I go from here?
What fate is drawing near?
Touch my heart
And guide my lips in prayer.
Through the grace of God alone
I'll cast aside these fears I've known
And lift myself from
The depths of deep dispair.
Lead me through the darkness
And through each gloomy day.
Take my hand, oh, precious Lord
And help me on my way.
Give me strength that I might find
Abiding faith and peace of mind
And I won't ask
Where do I go from here?
Please, Lead me through the darkness
And through each gloomy day.
Take my hand, oh, precious Lord
And help me on my way.
Give me strength that I might find
Abiding faith and peace of mind
And I won't ask
Where do I go from here?

As Jesus called each of the disciples, that same question, and that same plea lay within their hearts, and could be satisfied only through following Christ’s command to follow Him.
Through the years of their discipleship, they faced hardship, danger, self-denial, and all the accompanying fears and doubts that came with that discipleship, time and again asking that same question with the slight variation of “where do we go from here” in conjunction with the original question, finding the answer to remain the same.

John 6: 64-69 KJV
64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

Even after this answer, even after other profession of his faith, Peter still denied Christ as he heard and understood the answer to his question of “where do I go from here?”
He finally comprehended that answer after the resurrection when another question was posed to him by the risen answer to his question.


John 21:15-17 King James Version (KJV)
15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

It would be easy to have used the scripture found in the 14th chapter of John to answer the question posed by today’s title, and it does indeed provide that answer.
It is important as well to remember that while on the journey to the promise contained in that precious passage of scripture, that journey must first be completed and that each step along the way the path is made clear, the brush cut out of the way by remembering the requirements that compose each of those steps along that path.
The disciples did not choose Christ as leader when they were called, nor did they direct the ministry to which they had been called, they followed!
Christ chose them. Christ gave the guidance, the instruction, he showed them the WAY, proclaimed the TRUTH, and provided the LIFE that is the final answer to that question posed in today’s title.
Many along the way chose not to look beyond the immediacy of the temporary and chose to follow the majority to the end of their path.
The same remains true today for the multitude who look only at the path, never considering its end, never considering the necessity to keep moving forward with Christ.
Fishers of men. Caretakers of the sheep.  The question should never be where do I go from here, but  should constantly be “ how do I help others get to where I KNOW I go from here?”
It is through faith in Christ Jesus that the question asked, both by the song, and the one that should be asked is to be answered.
Matthew 8:26 King James Version (KJV)
26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
He Who rebuked the storm and calmed the sea has the same power to rebuke any storm and calm any life, produce courage  instead of fear for each willing to be chosen, willing simply to follow, questions will be answered along the way for all who listen for those answers.
Amen and Amen
CMc

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