Turning Points

            We probably all can find times in our lives when we have reached a “turning point.” These are those times when a decision is made to change the direction in which we were going to a new direction. I have had several of those points in my life. One of the most critical turning points came when I changed direction in “boot camp” from a destination as a guided missleman to a musician. It changed my order from Norman, Oklahoma to Washington, D. C. Some years later, another turning point came in my life which took place in the 1970's when I became a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal Savior. It is always amazing to see God at work and how your life can be turned around by making just one decision. Acts 16:6-8 says, “Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.”

            I have always loved this particular account as it tells how Paul and his evangelistic team tried to go in two different direction and the Holy Spirit stopped them in their tracks. Finally, they head to Troas and it was there that the Lord gave Paul a vision to head on over to Macedonia. It was Paul's idea to head back to those churches already established just to see how they were doing but God had a different direction for him to take. It was a significant turning point as the gospel message then went from Asia Minor to Europe and indeed kept on going. In Paul's message to the Thessalonians, he relates how the people had made a course change. First Thessalonians 1:9 says, “For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;” That is the most important “turning point” illustrated in the life of the Thessalonians. I have known few people who have remained on the same course all of their lives. Turning points can be seen at the times when a man and a woman decide to get married, or to have a family, or to choose a vocation or that special time when they decide to follow God. Sad to say but many don't even think about that decision and end up just going with the flow of society and basically the world system. How many turning points have you had in your life? Have you turned to God from the idols of the world? Both Jeremiah and David were known by God even before they were born as is the case with all of us. God knew us before we were ever born. Some of our turning points are small and only involve a short time while others can have eternal consequences. Praise God today that He is still working in our lives and we can rest in His directions for sure.