Josh's Ladder - and Jacob's Ladder

Josh’s Ladder – and Jacob’s Ladder

I like Lakepointe minister Josh Howerton’s sermon with two large step ladders placed side by side on the stage. One was labeled following Jesus values, the other following earthly values, maybe not in those words, but you get the drift. When he stepped up onto the lowest step of both ladders at the same time, he could easily straddle them, meaning that at first we can live pretty easily dipping into both. As he stepped up straddling both ladders on the second step up, it was harder but still very doable. As he tried the next level and the next it became more and more impossible to keep one foot on each ladder. Confusion and chaos follow if we don’t have a firm value system to guide our life’s decisions. Immersing in the Jesus choice gives us guidelines that may or may not make us rich in worldly things but will lead to a more rewarding and meaningful life here on earth, with fewer regrets when we get old. When our life here on earth ends, we would like to hear, “Well done, my good and faithful servant!”

Young people, you are impressionable, like sponges, soaking in all around you. I know I was. I was easily influenced. I thank God for the good influences offered to me. My parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, Sunday school and vacation Bible school influenced me. School teachers and kids my age did too, and sometimes even strangers and seemingly insignificant events. I still remember a visiting speaker in a high school assembly telling us to think and to be careful not to do things while we are young that we will regret when we are old. We need some sort of guidance system of right and wrong to figure that out and to understand that there are both rewards and consequences of the decisions we make. We don’t know just how far-reaching the choices we make when we are young will affect us and others around us as we grow older. We need to have our thinking cap on before we rush into following others. Sometimes, we can even become the leader in a better direction, keep others from doing something stupid and harmful, or just walk away and try to find better friends.

I’m glad I was born when I was. Life was simpler then –no computers, no internet, not even television until I was 12, and programming was limited. It must be so difficult and confusing for today’s and tomorrow’s youth trying to figure out who they are, distinguishing right from wrong and gaging the consequences and/or rewards of their decisions toward determining their future. The fortunate ones are the ones who choose the Jesus-based value system to guide them, then recognize it when they are getting too far drawn into the worldly values to straddle the ladder anymore, need to choose, and choose Jesus.

Now that I'm old, I really don’t have any regret that hasn't long since been forgiven. I've had problems like we all do, but God has really given me a wonderful life. I believe He has guided me in the most important decisions I’ve been faced with, even though I probably didn’t really realize it enough to give Him enough credit at the time. Thank you, Jesus, for taking such good care of me! Life won't always be easy, but if you walk with Him, He will walk with you!

When we accept Jesus into our lives and do our best to live by His teachings, we get the gift of the Holy Spirit within us to help us make decisions that result in the best most rewarding life experiences that we can have. I don’t know why God has let me live on this earth as long as He has. I’m 86 and trying to figure out what else He wants me to do or to learn. But I believe each one of us is here for a reason, if we can make the right choices to tune into just what that reason is and live up to it. I’ve recently been reminded that it’s what’s in our heart intuitively and prayer that lets the Holy Spirit guide us. Sometimes our conscience is influenced by worldly things – things around us other than the Holy Spirit. We can be on the wrong ladder without realizing it, talk ourselves into thinking something will be good for us and our loved ones when it’s not. That’s called rationalizing.

In the Bible there is Jacob’s ladder. (Genesis 28:10-22) While Jacob was sleeping near Bethel, he dreamed of a ladder – or stairway – reaching from earth to Heaven, with angels going up and down it. There is an old song, “We are climbing Jacob’s ladder, Soldiers of the Cross.”

Regardless of how old we are or how far sunk into earthly convictions on the earthly ladder, we can still hop over onto the Jesus ladder. When we do, we are giving ourselves guidelines to help us navigate through the good and the bad times that everyone faces while here on earth. It may not be easy but it will be rewarding. Without those guidelines, we are likely to reach the end of our lives with regrets, without the satisfaction that we did our best. Our memories won’t be as rewarding. And when we do make mistakes, telling Him we are sorry will help us get back on the Jesus ladder and restore our happiness and self-satisfaction.

Creation is far too amazing – beyond what we can see or fathom – for there not to be a God. But even if there really isn’t, you will be able to look back on your life feeling like you did your best. Goodness is its own reward. Self-satisfaction!

But if there really is a God and you have accepted Jesus Christ and lived according to His Word, then you will go on to a better life when you pass from this one. Why risk it! Choose a Godly life! Chose Jacob’s Ladder - Josh’s Jesus ladder! Your Jesus ladder!

--Beverly Wright