COURSE CORRECT YOUR CHRISTIANITY

Course corrections are periodic adjustments required while in flight. If no corrections are made, the slightest alteration in trajectory could lead the flight path significantly away from the destination.

Consider if a rocket ship was just 1 degree off right after take-off, by the time it entered orbit, it would miss its target by miles.

Course deviations are usually not very blatant; they tend to be subtle; we're just a hair off our correct course. Yet if a considerable amount of time transpires without correction, we find ourselves no where near our intended destination.

What do our sea, air, and space-faring vessels all have in common with sheep? Without guidance, they tend to wander. We have computer programs to monitor our flight paths and provide information that will correct our course.

Sheep have the same thing: but in their case, they're called shepherds. And we are typified in Scripture as sheep; we likewise need a shepherd, only a very GOOD Shepherd, because as much as sheep can wander, we wander further still!

Fortunately we have the very BEST of all Shepherds, our Good and Gentle, Wise and Benevolent LORD Jesus Christ. And He gave us His Holy Word to provide us Spirit-filled counsel. The Scriptures are indeed a lamp unto our feet and a light to our path!

PSALM 119:104-105

104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. 105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

If you consider the epistles of the New Testament, they are heavy in correction, both in doctrinal matters as well as behavioral matters. We must have our doctrine correct, because doctrine is to be believed, and what you truly believe, you will act on and this affects motives as well as our behavior.

Look at the first two letters in the word 'doctrine' - 'do'. Doctrine is not merely something to learn, it's meant to be put into practice (MATT 7:24), and thereby we reinforce it in the nature of Christ that dwells within us which transforms our attitudes, perspectives and motivations by His grace. Just as course deviations are typically tiny ones, doctrinal deviations are often very subtle as well, considering the founder of false doctrine is the serpent himself, more subtle than any other creature GOD had made. For an article that addresses this, go here.

Understanding the Word of GOD is not enough; for spiritual stability and security so that we can endure anything this world and Satan, and our own sinful nature throws at us, we must obey the Word of GOD; obedience is not even enough! We must have the right motivation as well, because we can have such faith as to move mountains, give all our finances to the poor, understand all mysteries - but if we have not GOD's own love as our sole motivation in all that we think, say and do, then it's all for nothing (1 COR 13:1-8); it's just wood, hay and stubble (1 COR 3:11-15) on the day when we stand before the LORD at the Bema Seat Judgment seat of rewards.

An incredibly difficult life you might say? I would disagree; it's not difficult at all - it's impossible! This is why it must be Christ in us (COL 1:27), not we ourselves, to fulfill the mission that we are called to, for only Christ lived a perfect life. This is not to say that we can likewise live a perfect life: any such belief falls into the error of sinless perfectionism, that completely contradicts Scripture (1 JOHN 1:8; 2:1).

And even with the very Spirit of GOD indwelling us, and the inerrant, incorruptible Word of GOD at our disposal, and direct access to the throne of GOD's grace - we still fall short. However, we mustn't let that daunt us - but press forward to acquire the prize of the high calling of GOD Himself:

PHILIPPIANS 3:12-15 

12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

That "mark" is what Paul was aiming for; whether he hit or missed it depended on his course; was it straight on course or did he deviate? If he deviated, he would have been in danger of being disqualified in ministry (1 COR 9:27).

"Perfect" in vs 15 means spiritually mature, not sinless or perfect in that sense; but by GOD's grace and our yielding up our "members" to holiness (ROM 6:11-14) and by means of GOD's sanctification process, endeavor towards "perfecting holiness":

2 CORINTHIANS 7:1
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Note what is says here: "cleanse ourselves from all ..." What can this possibly mean? How could we possibly cleanse ourselves? Most certainly not by our own endeavors or methods. We simply appropriate that which is afforded to us by the LORD: His blood applied positionally by faith that cleanses us from sin (REV 1:5); also His Word that cleanses us (EPH 5:26); by prayer and supplication for the work of the Spirit in our lives.

I could be out working all day and get quite grimy, and a hot shower, towel, soap could be provided for me, but if I don't step into that shower and apply the soap and water provided for me, I'm going to stay dirty! I cleanse myself but only by means of those things provided for me!

On the Road of Righteousness, if we stay on the narrow path (MATT 7:14), we will grow spiritually mature and find abundance of life (JOHN 10:10b), of fruit (JOHN 15:8) and blessing (EPH 1:3), but we are the LORD's sheep - and we tend to wander. This is why daily consumption of the Scriptures and prayer are vital - they are the compass and rule by which we traverse life and 'stay the course.

Remember that there is an adversary that wants to detour your course, namely the devil. He is quite adept in his observation of our human weaknesses and those sinful tendencies that are particular to us as individuals. Essentially, he knows what kind of bait to use for each of us. Between our adversary and our own flesh, we can be lured off course:

JAMES 1:13-15

13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

We can find ourselves equally distracted by things that are not sinful in themselves, but rob us of time better spent with the LORD and His Kingdom purposes. 

For example, I love reading novels - there's something thrilling about opening a book, starting on page one, and before you know it, you're on a captivating journey of some kind that builds to a climax, with all sorts of surprising twists and turns along the way, and ending with a conclusion both satisfying and fulfilling. These days however, I have no time to get into this hobby. I'm occupied with writing, researching, studying, preaching and teaching that I have to lay aside novels: they aren't sinful (except for the sinful kinds) except in the sense that they steal time GOD intends for us in laboring in His vineyard (LUKE 10:2).

The war between our life in Christ and a carnal desire to "live my own life" can become a means by which we may steer off course; I've known quite a few professing Christians who've gotten so caught up in a relationship or launching a career or investing in a time-consuming hobby and have lost their way until they've gone so far, that they lose their spiritual appetite for the Word and the LORD Himself, making them vulnerable to evil enticements and they doubt they'll ever find their way back!

What is gratifying is the truth of our Good Shepherd; that He will leave the ninety-nine and seek out that which was lost, and finding that lost sheep, comes again rejoicing (LUKE 15:3-6). Perhaps you recognize yourself in some of what I've described here; maybe you wonder, considering where you've been and what you've done - if the LORD would even welcome you back.

Let me tell you, if you see your life broken and in ruins, and any hope is a forlorn, useless cause - you can turn back to the LORD and He will welcome the repentant, humble heart (JOHN 6:37)!

It's heartbreaking to see so many who name the name of Christ get caught up in Word-Faith, New Apostolic Reformation, Emergent Church Movement, Hebrew Roots Movement and many others besides that create a major deviation away from the Christ-centered course of the whole counsel of GOD. We can only expect more of this as the apostasy increases (1 TIM 4:1-3; 2 TIM 3:1-5); therefore, an increase in our intensity and frequency in Bible study, walking in the Spirit, praying and godly fellowship will be all the more needed!

See the excellent article APOSTASY And It's ANTIDOTE by The Berean Call.

There is a great need for professing believers to firstly, make certain that their salvation is genuine:

2 CORINTHIANS 13:5

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?.

Secondly to return to the Bible, reading it from verse to verse, chapter to chapter, book after book, from GENESIS to REVELATION, and then back again to GENESIS; a faithful study in the WORD and rightly applying it as well are crucial (If you would like to learn how to study the Bible you can find resources on The TRUTH Under FIRE ("Bible Study") - DISCIPLESHIP 102; for those newer in the faith, consider DISCIPLESHIP 101 - Fundamentals of the Faith. Find them both here.

There are too many Christians who think they can go it alone, a kind of spiritual Lone Ranger mentality; however we are called the body of Christ for a reason: a body is a corporate entity. That is to say, we are many different members contained in a single unit (the body in its entirety). We should no more separate ourselves from fellowship with believers than we should expect our right hand to suddenly pop off our wrist and decide to "go it alone".

It's amazing how 'off-course' even genuine Christians can get, when they are solitary, not committed and accountable a local congregation. I've seen this many times as well, how a solitary Christian develops some of the most bizarre doctrine "because I don't follow man; I follow Christ alone and He teaches me directly".

While it's absolutely true that we receive instruction from the LORD directly as we get into Bible study (EPH 4:21), if the LORD intended that all of the teaching be received directly from the LORD, He would have never provided pastors and teachers - but these are gifts He has given to the church, for the express purpose of equipping the saints (EPH 4; see especially vs. 11-13): fellowship is necessary!

Then there is prayer! This is a third practice along with the Bible and fellowship that is entirely needed in order to stay the course and not deviate from the path of righteousness! For any soldier to be on the battlefield without communication with HQ will lead to disorder and defeat; likewise we must be in touch regularly with the LORD. Our LORD Jesus Himself spent hours in prayer, seeking the will of His Father - and if He did, how much more should we?

I love the collective works of E.M. Bounds on prayer! I pray that it will equally be a blessing to you! His exhortations help fuel my zeal for prayer! Here is a web page with pdfs you can read from your computer. Here is where you can buy a hard copy.

May the LORD grant us His wisdom to see with spiritual acuity where we are on our course (2 TIM 4:7) we are running for His glory!

For an excellent article that deals with more of this, see the following TTUF article by Anne Kisly: Our Christian Witness - Keeping Our Attitudes Right
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