Follow the Word, Not the Herd

 

 

The other day I was driving through town and two vehicles were in front of me. I saw that there was construction up ahead and a big orange sign that said lane shift ahead. I was kind of lost in my thoughts and wasn’t paying great attention. There were cones set up on the road to indicate the lane shift. The two cars in front of me drove to the left of the cones instead of staying to the right, and I followed their lead. We went through the short construction zone in the wrong lane and so did a few cars that were following me. We all mindlessly followed the leader of the pack. Needless to say, the construction workers were not very happy with this turn of events. I only hope that if I would’ve been the leader of the pack I would’ve made the correct choice to stay to the right of the cones. There was no flag man. We were just supposed to be smart enough to discern our lane.

This regrettable episode reminded me of how easy it is to mindlessly follow someone that we look up to as a leader. When a leader demonstrates charisma, confidence, and positivity it’s easy to follow them and it’s difficult to discern their true character and integrity. We were born with a propensity to follow, just like a herd of sheep, as Jesus often compared us to. Unfortunately, sheep aren’t very smart, however, I choose to believe that it wasn’t our lack of intelligence that caused Jesus to compare us to sheep, but a need to stay close to the shepherd, because when we stray too far from the shepherd we become vulnerable.

Whether we are listening to a good preacher, podcast, news report, or political speech, it’s essential to measure it all by the truth of the Word and heed the Holy Spirit when we sense a red flag. We must be on our guard for those who want to deceive us with half-truths. The enemy of our souls is out to kill, steal, and destroy as it says in John.

John 10:10, "The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

Deception and distortion are part of his big game plan. He mixes a little bit of truth into the deception so we swallow it. A spoonful of sugar…

Deception can happen so innocently. We can see the world through the lens of social media algorithms or biased news media. Scandals and distorted truths are popping up like popcorn, inside and outside of the church. It's incredibly hard to sift through it all.

I wasn’t very proud of myself that I drove through that construction zone without being more mindful, plus, I didn’t enjoy getting screamed at. However, I am thankful that the Lord reminded me of how important it is to think for myself and to be led by the Spirit, and the scriptures, and not by what’s popular. I don’t want to be swayed by the person who is screaming their “truth” the loudest or by the person who seems to be in the front of the pack. The only way to stay on the right path, for me, is to stay close to the Shepherd.

 Isaiah 8:11-13

"This is what the Lord says to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people:

¹² “Do not call conspiracy

    everything this people calls a conspiracy;

do not fear what they fear,

    and do not dread it.

¹³ The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy,

    he is the one you are to fear,

    he is the one you are to dread."

 

 

 

Scent of Heaven

 

 

I don’t often wear perfume because my husband doesn’t care much for it, but when I do, I wear Falling in Love, by Philosophy. It is a light, flowery fragrance that we both find pleasing. One Sunday morning I slipped into a row in church and a friend sitting in the row in front of me said she could tell I was sitting behind her because she could smell my perfume. I was surprised that I was identified by my fragrance.

Did you ever think about the fact that we all have our own unique fragrance that is natural to us? Without any cologne or perfume, we each have a distinct scent. Dogs and other animals are very aware of this. I have noticed numerous times when I borrow a sweater or a blanket from someone I can smell the owner. In various seasons of life, I have received bags of baby or maternity clothes that I borrowed for a time, and when I opened the bag it smelled like that person’s house.

We make associations with smells. An aroma can remind us of a happy, peaceful time, like the smell of a motel, the seashore, or a fried breakfast at the cabin. When we get a hint of those appealing smells, it takes us back in time to when we were actually there. Conversely, smells can also remind us of traumatic events, like a hospital or a school.

I love the following verses from the Message translation.

2 Corinthians 2:14-16 In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation—an aroma redolent with life. 

Just as we each have an organic, signature fragrance, wouldn’t it be great to bring a natural fragrance of Jesus wherever we go? A teaser whiff that piques curiosity?

My life goal is to carry a sweet scent of Heaven that makes people pause and deeply inhale. When I leave the room I want that sweet aroma to linger, an aroma redolent with life, a scent of Heaven.