You're on The Right Track

By R. Scott Goddard

Let's start by asking, "Where is the right track?"

I'll give you a hint, it's something perfect.

James 1 (NKJV)

2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

So, here there appears to be a process that I want to discuss with you for a moment. I think it's easy to gloss over this, and sort of miss something important.

James, the brother of Jesus (some say he was a cousin essentially) gives us some reflective perspective. I always picture spending time with James in the forest on a special retreat. James is going to slow things down and sober our minds.

So, He starts his letter talking about trials. A trial is a testing of our faith that is serious. Whatever degree it comes to us, it is given to us so that we may become what God wants us to become. This is a religion of transformation, which I think a lot of people may not realize. A lot of people think Christianity is a sort of insurance and a crutch. Technically it has that role, though we probably wouldn't want to phrase it that way, but beyond those aspects, there is more to it than that. There is something I've been getting from the apostles when I read the Bible. You hear this reoccurrence of "perfection". To be honest, it took a moment to adjust to that, because you always hear this notion of "We are not perfect people", "Don't aim for perfection", "Nothing is perfect". I think you know what I mean. At least in our culture, perfection is sort of a "bad word".

Psalm 18:30 (NKJV)

As for God, His way is perfect;

The word of the Lord is proven;

He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

So how do we come to this perfection that James is speaking of and is mentioned in other places? Well- it's simple and he breaks it down for us- you just have to read line by line:

2nd verse is saying: "Count it all joy when a major testing comes to you"...

Why would we count it joy? That seems a bit counterintuitive, doesn't it? ...It means that something good can come of this. A major opportunity will arise out of this thing that is happening.

3rd Verse: "Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience"

So, this testing of our faith produces something called patience. The Greek word there where they get "patience" from is actually in the original text the word, "hypomonḗ". What it means is endurance. It makes sense too, we can't get or receive any type of endurance without actually testing the limits of ourselves. So, we're going to need this endurance to keep going in our relationship with God.

...And now we are talking about a trajectory today. A path we are going down. A track we are going down.

4th Verse. Now this is where it gets interesting... it says "Let patience have her perfect work in you, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."

So, now it starts to get interesting, and let me point it out for you. The way they're talking about patience is that it is activated by a trial (which is a serious test from God that allows the devil to hit you hard- a classic example is Job in the book of Job), and it activates this hypomonḗ, an endurance that comes- a quality we receive that gets us in line with God's will and gives us the ability to perform it. It gets us on the right track.

It says patience is doing a work actively that when it's done, brings a perfection. Of course, perfection only comes from God, so it means we get closer and closer with God, and there's less and less of our earthly self and its desires. This patience keeps us going and gives us the ability to keep going to our end destination, that is Heaven.

So what is the path, this trajectory, this track? Let's talk about it today...

I want to tell you today that you're on the right track.

How do I know that you're on the right track?

You're getting this message right now. You have an interest in God. You are seeking God in one form or another. Jesus is leading you to Him as he is leading others to him. He is calling His sheep to Him.

What happens to people is that God get's them on track...

...Or maybe they get themselves on track... which to be honest is the case for most of us. There has to be some initiative on our end and I think a lot of people don't realize that. Jesus wants to see your down payment of commitment- you know what I mean?

It starts small.

To get on the right track, it starts with our belief and acting upon that belief according to our capacity in that moment.

From there, we keep building up.

But Listen, they're going to throw you off track.

Before we talk about being "on track", let's talk about being "off track". They're working (the forces of evil)- they're planning on it. It applies if you're on track or getting on track... to the track... or you're far down the track.

The only thing that can stop us from being on track is being OFF the track.

James 1 starts off with trials. Temptations from Satan. Hardships. Maybe even devastation. Maybe even tragedy, God have mercy.

Let's get real now.

No God,

I'm not going to go out drinking with the Saturday night downtown revelers.

I'm not going to the bachelorette party because I don't think it's a good idea and it could get me off track.

I'm not going to join that fraternity or sorority because it can get me off track.

I'm not going to take a vacation from some random dude on the internet because it could get me off track.

I'm not going to go to an adult only all-inclusive resort in the tropics because it could get me off track.

For the ladies- no I'm not going to shack up with some guy that hasn't committed his life to me and give up my body.

Let's keep going...

No, this health issue and this pain isn't going to keep me from worshipping Jesus and it's not going to stop be from believing.

No I'm not going to pick up that pipe again.

No I'm not going to be stoned out of my mind all day and lie to myself that it's not messing with my mind.

You know, I've been feeling like I don't want to keep popping those pills even if Big Pharma tells me I should. I feel like God is able to heal me of whatever this is.

No I'm not going to tap out and just do whatever I want like there's no tomorrow.

No, I'm not going to snap again on everyone.

No, I'm not going to read that book again that I know I shouldn't be reading even though the Holy Spirit told you to put it down.

I'm gonna put that drink down.

I'm gonna put that website down.

I'm gonna put that app down.

I'm gonna put that video game down.

UNSUBSCRIBE.

I'm gonna stop spending all my time judging everyone.

I'm gonna commit my life to God.

I'm going to go further down the track than before.

...I usually get caught up right at this point, but I think this time I'm going to keep going just a little further. I want to see some new stuff. Wait, what's that over there? I see something. What's that I feel? I feel something. That's God. He's over there, just a little bit further. He's calling me. I'm going to keep going. I think I'm on the right track! Yeah, I'm on the right track! Hey, you've got to get on the right track! This is great! I'm going to stay on the right track! Follow me! I'm following them!

If I fall down don't stop, keep going! I'm someone falls down, don't stop, keep going! Save yourself!!! Whatever happens, whatever you do- Stay on the right track! You're on the right track!

There's temptation, and there's going down a whole other road that we don't want to go down. Don't pull that trigger. Don't keep going down that road. Let me let you in a little secret about this Christianity thing... A lot of this is NOT DOING WHAT THE WORLD IS DOING! I'll say it again, a lot of this is NOT DOING WHAT THE WORLD IS DOING! I'm going to need you to be your own judge of your life as far as what you can do and can't do in your life, but I'm going to need you to be a sober and responsible judge. Don't deceive yourself. I don't want anybody going down any slippery slopes that will take you away from what God really wants in your life. All these things I'm talking about are the things that get you off track, and what I'm speaking about today is being ON TRACK. I believe God calls people who are responsible. That you have that capacity.

I believe that when it comes down to the wire, you're going to make the right choice. You're

not going to take the bait of what the devil wants you to take.

Remember, Christ said to Peter, ""Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat." (Luke 22:31)"

Listen now, I'm not talking about just a little sin here. I'm talking about the big one. I'm talking about the move he's making that's going to take people out for six, twelve, twenty years away from their relationship with God and Christianity and the church. God forbid it was someone's spiritual death and they never returned. I'm talking about a major incident that changes the course of your life. I'm praying and believing that those things will not interrupt you because you're going to go to the next level with Jesus. We are going to go to the next level. Hallelujah!

You're on the Track to being filled with the spirit- so filled you don't care about anything else...

When we receive the Holy Spirit in our bodies- the gift that comes from God and comes upon those who decide to give their lives to God through belief in Jesus- we are filled with His Spirit- the Spirit of God. It connects us to God, and we become a new person. We are not the person we were when we were originally born by our parents. The Bible says we become a "New Creature", or "Creation".

That Holy Spirit, when we are on track will dwell in even more fullness within us to a point where it's overflowing in our lives. I'm talking about whether you're inside a Church or not inside a church- in your personal life, wherever you go. God is dwelling with you because you are on track. You are doing the will of God in your life; you are filled with light because you have put away darkness and that light and that Spirit of God is residing inside of you, so that other things aren't getting in. They are not taking root in your life, and all that is within you is more and more of God.

It's when the Spirit of God is with us, we have less fear and anxiety, we aren't worried so much about all the unknowns or what can go wrong. We are living in the moment with Christ and His Spirit allows us to become focused and empowered to where we are living in a constant worship and testimony to Jesus. But we get this way when we are on track. When we say, I'm not going to be detoured by something else. First and foremost, God is the most important thing in my life. Being a Christian is the most important thing in my life, even more than family, or tradition, or nationality, or my education, or my job, or my income bracket, or the things I own. When we put Jesus first, then he leads us to where we need to go, and what we need to do in His will.

I believe we can get to filled with God's Spirit that we can do anything! This is key... the enemy forces don't want us to be able to do anything, but if we can be a vessel to God here on earth and we are seasoned and not fazed by what comes our way because we stick with God even when anything is going on- He is going to dwell in us and with us. Jesus said I can't do anything except that the Father lets me do it (John 5:30). In the same way, when we remove ourselves out of the equation more and more God will start to do His will in our lives. When we're going down this track, we build a momentum, and our faith expands more and more, and our endurance strengthens more and more. We become a force in this world where God can flow through us. THIS is what the enemy doesn't want. The enemy hates that. The enemy- Devil INC. works overtime and runs a publicly traded company that is dedicated to making sure people don't get on track! We can short circuit these evil works by getting on track. Once you're on track, others will want to get on track. You will meet more people are hungry for God. When you meet them in person, they will be blessed by your presence because God is WITH YOU! Hallelujah!

As you grow on this track and God is filling more and more of your life, is there anything you can't do? The Bible says In Phillipians 4:13:

13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

When we're on track, were growing with Christ, and let me ask you... what happens when you're completely filled and overflowing with the Spirit of Christ anything can happen, because Christ has all dominion and authority.

Philippians 1:19:

19 For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ

Let us be filled with the Spirit of Jesus and let your life CHANGE THIS WORLD! In whatever way that you do, let it be for God. Remember, I said this is a religion of transformation... it's not something static and in stone. This is a living moving breathing truth.

The enemy wants you to be paralyzed, frozen- they want you to feel like there's no room for growth. No room to get better. Your best days are over. Let's just flip through the photo album of good times past. No- don't believe that lie! Just keep going down the track and walking, keep running, sprint if you feel up to it... just keep going! Don't stop. Don't deviate and get on some other track. That track is the track of the world. Now you're in another race that God can't be a part of because it doesn't lead to His Will. No, stay on course and see yourself transform! Amen.

You Say, "I'm on Track"... Where am I Going?

We're going to Heaven! That's where we are running to. We're running to see Jesus in real life!

Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV)

1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

You hear that? There's that mention of "perfection" again... where it says "finisher"... that word in the greek is "teleiótés". It means completion. It means to consummate. It means that we will be spiritually brought into perfect union with Christ because he loves us and we have reached the end of our journey towards Him. When that happens, it will be perfect. So- when we are on track we are moving towards perfection because we are moving towards Jesus and to be received by Him. Praise Jesus!

Scott, when will our troubles end? What about that enemy who's always after us... who even tempted Christ, who tempts all Christians and non-Christians from becoming Christian and tries to bring everyone and everything down.

Let's read Revelation 19:1-6 (NKJV)

This is the end of what we shall see:

1 After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! 2 For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.” 3 Again they said, “Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!” 4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, “Amen! Alleluia!” 5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying, “Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!”

6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!

Isn't that a beautiful picture into Heaven, and what we shall see? The great enemies of God and his servants will witness the judgement of God upon them for all the evil they had done. It says there will be a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and the sound of mighty thunderings that will say "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!" We will be there when all is said and done, after we have continued on this track to Christ to witness the most glorious things in existence. It will be beyond words, and this is the perfection. The perfection is Christ. We will be in union, with Him and we will see the greatest in all of creation.

I believe today you're on the right track, and if we resist the tempter who wants us to stop believing and acting upon our belief in Christ, we will never get off track. As long as we focus our lives on Jesus as the most important thing in our life, that magnetism, that supernatural force will bring us closer and closer to his glory in heaven. That glory that we read of in Revelations. It will be revealed to us more and more as the days go by.

I hope today you're saying you believe in God, and you believe in Jesus Christ as the savior of your soul. That you understand that he was punished and crucified upon the cross for our sins, that he took the punishment on our behalf because He loved God, and God loved us. Let us love God for all that he has done, and decide today, within ourselves, that we will give our lives to God and not go off track because of outside influences. We will stay with Him wherever we go. We will cling to him in our lives because we know nothing else can compare.