Spiritual Signs Along the Way

By Robert Lane

With God's direction, I have embarked upon a journey with a purpose, and that is to share the word of God in a way so that everyone can understand regardless of his or her status. I ask that as you go through its pages with me and that you will do so with an open mind, praying and looking up the scriptures given that I have not already provided. As fellow motorists, we are all aware that, to go on a road trip, it requires planning, and preparation, considering such things as packing, funds, vehicle readiness if driving, and the route. There are several modes of travel, but driving, to me, is the most rewarding because of sceneries, interaction with others, and to be able to stop at a restaurant, and enjoy good food and conversation. Some of the things that affect our travels are the road signs motorists come upon. Even though we have those physical signs to guide us, those signs can also be applied spiritually. I hope to show that it has always been God's plan to guide and direct man's steps. Any highway, road, or freeway that does not have signs to aid in traveling will not be a safe avenue in which to travel. Cities and states have mapped out their roads, and streets have various signage to make our motoring travels safer and less stressful. Now, come along with me on a wonderful journey into this book that will prepare us for the Christian journey, and may the Holy Spirit fill every void of misunderstanding God's holy word with clarity and revelation.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Dec 20, 2019
• ISBN: 9781645693062

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Spiritual Signs Along the Way

Robert Lane Sr.

Copyright © 2019 by Robert Lane Sr.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Stop

Yield

Caution

Road Work Ahead

Detour Ahead

Construction Ahead

Express Lane

Toll

Lane Ends

Merge

Weigh Station

Dead End

Slippery When Wet

Road Narrows

Deer Crossing

Straight/One Way

Traffic Light Ahead

Rest Area

Kingdom of Heaven City Limits

I give glory and thanksgiving to God who made it possible for me to write this book to enlighten and encourage others. I also would like to thank my wife Evelyn for being so patient and supportive during the process. I thank all of the men and women of God, as well as the brothers and sisters in Christ who have been an encouragement to me down through the years!

Introduction

If we were to look around us, we can readily see things, or signs, that can be applied in a spiritual sense, but unless seeing through spiritual eyes, we will miss it. Let us, for example, take something all of us see and perhaps utilize daily, the door! We can go in and out of one or more throughout a day and never look at that door in a spiritual sense, never see it as a sign! There are signs all around us, but we must learn to look for them, and as we observe them, they will enable us to be focused and steadfast on this spiritual journey we are on.

With God’s direction, I have embarked upon a journey with a purpose, and that purpose is to share the word of God in a way that everyone can understand regardless of his or her status. I ask that, as you go through its pages with me, you will do so with an open mind, praying and looking up the scriptures given that I have not already provided the text to. I am aware that some may not agree with every entry—no problem there! I do not agree with many of the Bible scholars, mainly because many of them cannot agree on some passages of scriptures as noted when they use such terms as it’s possible that…, it is probable that…, this might have taken place…, and so forth. Many scholars write or teach according to what they learned through study, research, or were taught themselves; but the best teacher is the Holy Ghost; when he instructs, there will be no discrepancies, errors, and no misunderstanding. I therefore ask that just because you may read something that seem to be new, don’t cast it out, but take it to God and ask him for understanding because it could be something that you might not have been taught or heard yet.

As fellow motorists, we are all aware that, to go on a road trip, it requires planning and preparation, considering such things as packing, funds, vehicle readiness if driving, and the route. There are several modes of travel, but driving, to me, is the most rewarding because of sceneries, the interaction with others, and to be able to stop at a restaurant and enjoy good food and conversation with those traveling with us. Some of the things that affect our journey are the sign along the way! Even though we have those physical signs, they may also be observed in a spiritual sense, as I hope to show, for it has always been God’s plan to guide and direct man’s steps. Any highway, road, or freeway that does not have signs to aid in traveling will not be a safe avenue in which to travel. Cities and states have mapped out their roads with various signs to make our motoring travels safer and less stressful.

Now, come along with me on a wonderful journey into this book that will prepare us for the Christian journey, and may the Holy Spirit fill every void of misunderstanding God’s holy word.

All scriptures are from the King James Version unless otherwise posted.

Highway

Stop

When we, as motorists, leave home, we will encounter a stop sign along the way. This sign tells us that we must stop our forward progress and bring our vehicle to a complete halt. If we ignore that sign, we could be involved in an accident and be injured, killed, or possibly injure or kill someone else. God speaks to us through his word warning us to stop—to turn from a life of sin.

Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease (desist, stop, abstain) to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow (Isaiah 1:16–17).

As a Christian we must stop being a pawn used of the devil for his purposes, we are to no longer allow him to deceive and use us at his will; if we do not resist him we will endure unnecessary suffering, the decrease of blessings, and the absence of the harmonious relationship with the Lord. Rest assured that if we do not of our own will and mind stop our sinful ways, God will do it for us, and as a result, we will suffer greatly. Consider Titus 1:10–11. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.

It was a reality then, and it is more prevalent today, that many things are being preached, taught, and promoted, most of which scriptures do not support. Paul had to deal with those of the circumcision, those hardcore Jews who believed that circumcision was a requirement for salvation, a belief that caused a division in the church. The circumcision is a type or symbol of the holy, godly, and devoted believers; the un-circumcision is symbolic of those who are ungodly—in Paul’s day, the Gentile unbelievers.

The appeal to stop is applied scripturally in various terms, but the meaning is the same. Let us look at how some of those terms are used in scripture. Cease: It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling (Proverbs 20:3). This is a powerful contrast between an honorable wise man and a fool! The honorable wise man/or woman will stop or guard their tongue, being careful of what they speak concerning others in spite of what their mind might want to speak. But the foolish person will dive headlong into what the mind says, often to their own hurt. Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven (Proverbs 23:4–5). This is not a prohibition against being rich, but it is a warning against one’s quest to obtain riches to the extent that they will compromise their name and salvation to obtain their riches. Tragically, there are those who amassed great possessions and wealth but took no thought of their fate in the afterlife. We can see the quest for riches in this day and time; we see it in drug dealers, organized crime leaders, and in the business sector. As verse five states, riches can easily go away in one disaster or one downturn of the stock market or left behind in death.

But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children. (2 Peter 2:10–14)

There are those in our society today who want no part of salvation, and will go out of their way to stop or prevent others from receiving salvation, and I’m sure many of us have encountered such people in our daily walk.

As observed in the above text, such behavior on their part has severe consequences! If one does not want to accept Christ as their Savior, that is their choice, but they should leave it up to others to decide for themselves the path to take. Another obstacle to contend with as believers are those who will seize the opportunity to beguile unstable souls, attempting to prevent or turn others away from accepting salvation; they do not want it, so instead of just going on about their way, they will attempt to impede others as we learn in Acts 13:6–­12.

And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus: Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord. (Acts 13:6–12)

Those who walk according to the lust of their flesh and have no respect for authorities or laws and speak evil of them (something the angels does not do), shall incur God’s wrath. The wicked are described as the ones who sport themselves with or through their own deceptions. Verse fourteen explains what drives them: their eyes are wholly focused on satisfying their fleshly desires, they are so fixed until they cannot stop (cease) from sinning, being driven by a heart exercised with covetous practices, and they go about to entice and entrap the gullible soul. The Bible describes such wicked individuals as being cursed children! How does a person become cursed? The answer to that question is in the twenty-seventh chapter of Deuteronomy, but I will not elaborate on each verse.

And the Levites shall speak, and say unto all the men of Israel with a loud voice, Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the Lord, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen. Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen. (Deuteronomy 27:14–16)

That verse reveals how serious it is for children to love, value, and honor their parents! Do we observe a downturn from obeying such a command in our society today? All a person need to do is watch the news or simply observe parent/children interaction in their communities to be able to answer that question.

Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour’s landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed be he that maketh the blind to wander out of the way. And all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed be he that lieth with his father’s wife; because he uncovereth his father’s skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed be he that lieth with any manner of beast. And all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed be he that lieth with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed be he that lieth with his mother in law. And all the people shall say, Amen. (Deuteronomy 27:17–23)

Many sexual infractions like sexual acts with his mother, aunt, sister, mother-in-law, his neighbor’s wife, sex between those of the same sex, with an animal, and other sexual behavior; the penalty was death. Even rape carried the penalty of death; the man if the woman cried out for help, but it was both if she did not for it showed that she was a willing participant. Because of the grace and mercy of God, such a penalty is not imposed today because God allows the opportunity for repentance to take place once the guilty parties come into the knowledge of the truth.

Cursed be he that smiteth his neighbour secretly. And all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen. (Deuteronomy 27:23–26)

For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. (Galatians 3:10)

Okay! We know about the physical deeds of our flesh that we are to stop doing as Christians, but what about the things that comes out of our mouths? Let us see what Scripture says about it.

Refrain:

Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. (1 Peter 3:8–11)

Verses eight and ten says it all, for in verse eight, we are told that we are to be of one mind, have compassion, and love one another as brothers (and sisters in the Lord); we are to be pitiful as well as courteous to one another. Verse ten cautions us that if we have a love of the life that is to come and the good days that follow, we will refrain or stop our tongues from speaking evil and our lips from speaking bitterly towards one another. Yet in the body of Christ, there is much bitterness, contention, and slander spoken against or towards others. Wisdom should cause one to place themselves in the other person’s position by asking, What if it was me having mean things said to or about me?

Put away:

Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil. (Isaiah 1:16)

Depart:

Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. (Psalm 34:14)

Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore. (Psalm 37:27)

The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath. (Proverbs 15:24)

By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil. The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul. (Proverbs 16:6, 17)

Abstain:

For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess…(own, as in self-control)…his vessel in