Signposts – we all need them as we travel on our highways.
They are invaluable in our journey from place A to place B.

Here are some observations about signposts:

• They are very strategically placed at the right location so as to get our attention with the right color, font size, etc.
• They tell us about the next immediate destination and also the ones that are far away.
• One signpost leads to another which leads to another and so on till we reach the destination.
• They give us the confidence to travel in our vehicles at good speed.

Signposts display different kinds of messages:

• Some give us the names of the destinations with the distance and the direction
• They caution us - speed limits, detours, diversions, warning messages, etc.
• Others mention places for refueling, refreshments, hospitals, emergencies, etc.
• In the night, there are reflectors (which we may not have noticed during the day) which help us so that we don’t go off the road.

The Lord Jesus has placed signposts in our life too – in this journey of faith, as we follow Him.

He has placed these signposts because He loves us, cares for us and wants us to stay on the path of His plans and His purposes for our life.

So, our life is not without direction or meaning at any point. The Lord promises and gives all the direction, instruction & help that we need in our journey of life.

The Lord has not only placed signposts to help us on our paths but He Himself is our navigator in our vehicle. He alerts us to the signs and is our companion on our journey – one who never sleeps nor slumbers.

Signpost # 1 - The Word of God

The Word of God is living, powerful and full of direction, wisdom, instruction, encouragement and warnings.

Psalm 119:105
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Psalm 19:11
11 Moreover by them your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward.
So how do we look at the Bible?
Is it just another book?  - an ancient collection of good if not great literature?
Or is it the Word of God?

The psalmist considers the scriptures as the standard for his life – his reference point.

Psalm 119:128
128 Therefore all Your precepts concerning all things I consider to be right; I hate every false way.

Is the Bible our standard? Can we grow to the place of considering His precepts to be

Psalm 119:133
133 Direct my steps by Your word, And let no iniquity have dominion over me.

We can confidently follow the Word of God as it is indeed God’s signpost for our life.

Signpost # 2 - The Spirit of God (The Holy Spirit)

The Holy Spirit leads us, God’s children day by day to do the things that He has called us to do and follow Him.

John 10:27
27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

Romans 8:14
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

As God’s children, as believers, we are designed/wired to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God leads, warns and strengthens us in addition to teaching, strengthening and empowering us.

Let us discern, learn and understand the language of the Holy Spirit.

Some of the ways in which the Holy Spirit leads us-

• Gentle promptings/impressions – a word, picture, scripture.
• Dreams
• Visions

Since not all of these, all the time are from the Holy Spirit – it could be our own imagination, our flesh or the works of the devil – we need to test these.

4 tests:

• Does the leading of the Spirit agree with the Word of God?
• Does the leading of the Spirit glorify Jesus?
• Is it righteous?
• Do other believers bear witness?

Signpost # 3 - The Body of Christ (fellow believers)

The Lord will use other believers in the body as signposts in our life.

The gift of the Spirit that are mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12 are given to express care for one another in the body (read verse 25)

The gifts are given for the profit of all, (i.e) for everyone’s benefit.

Of the 9 gifts mentioned, 3 are directional in addition to bringing edification, exhortation and comfort. These are-

• the Word of knowledge
• the Word of wisdom
• prophecy

So, you and I are signposts in someone else’s life as directed by the Holy Spirit, as we pray and minister to one another the gifts of the Spirit.

We are all signposts to the world outside - Pointing to the Savior, the Lord Jesus.

Matthew 5:14
14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

Sometimes, we are the only signposts in another person’s life. Let us point well and in the right direction!

Our responsibility:

Our responsibility is twofold

• To be active in praying, asking, seeking God’s signposts for our life.
• To be diligent in doing, obeying, following the signposts of God.

James 1:21-22
21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

Sometimes, when hearing from God, things are unclear because we have not laid aside certain things (filthiness, wickedness) before receiving from God.

Sometimes, we are not receiving because there is no humility in us. We have to receive with meekness

The Greatest Signpost – The Cross

God has given us the greatest signpost of all – the Cross – pointing to His love, to the greatest sacrifice ever made so that humanity can have a change in destiny and spend eternity with Him.

Consequences of not following/missing the signposts

Our loving God ensures that there are adequate signposts along our way so that we don’t miss any because there are consequences when we don’t follow the signs-

When we do not follow God’s signposts-

• We move further away from the destination that He has for us though we might be moving / travelling on in life.
• We lose time as we might have to retrace our path and start all over again in the right direction,
• We face disaster if we repeatedly continue to ignore His warnings.

The U-Turn
Our God loves us so much that even if we have ignored His signs and have strayed far away from Him, He has placed another signpost on our path:

A ‘u-turn’ so that we can get back to Him!

Today can be a U-Turn in our life in inviting the Lord Jesus as our Saviour and God.
Today can be a U-Turn in our life in re-committing ourselves to follow Him if we have strayed away from His path of righteousness and His purpose for our lives.