Guidebooks Improve The Journey.

Lonely Planet has become the leader in travel guides, with 40 years experience, 500 titles, and 120 million books in print; not counting their digital platform. Lonely Planet guides are known to improve the destination-experience.

The Bible can be considered the guidebook for life’s journey. I believe it holds the knowledge and the map to keep us on the right path. More importantly, I believe that the Bible improves the overall experience of life.

Consider the Psalmist’s writing in chapter 119 as an index for this guidebook.

“97 Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. 98 Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me. 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts.

101 I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep your word. 102 I do not turn aside from your rules, for you have taught me. 103 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104 Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.” (Ps. 119:97-104)

#1. The Bible Provides the Knowledge

“…wiser than my enemies…more understanding than all my teachers…I understand more than the aged…” (119:98-100)

In verse 98, this passage teaches us that Scripture makes us wiser than our enemies. Each and every one of us faces adversity throughout this journey of life. Wouldn’t it be great to have a wisdom above that adversity?

This passage also tells us that we can obtain more understanding than teachers and the elderly. Education and experience are keys to wisdom and understanding. And yet, the Bible can give us wisdom and understanding above our pay grade and beyond our years!

#2. The Bible Provides the Map

“…hold back my feet from every evil way…I do not turn aside…” (119:101-102)

Verses 101 and 102 hold a path metaphor. Consider life, like hiking through a vast trail system. The Bible can keep our feet from danger, in the most extreme case, walking off that cliff that could end your life.

Scripture can also keep us from taking the wrong trail. It’s provides the route that will bring us the most success on our journey.

#3. The Bible Improves the Experience

“How sweet are your words to my taste…therefore I hate every false way.” (119:103-104)

The metaphor moves from the path to taste in the next couple of verses. The Bible can make this life sweeter, improving the overall experience. But it goes further than that!

Once we taste the sweet honey of following Scripture, the false ways of sin become more and more bitter to the taste. The closer we draw to Jesus through Scripture and prayer, the more we become discontent with our sinful desires.

The Lamp & The Light

Let’s go one verse further, coming back to the path metaphor. Verse 105 reads as follows:

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

The Bible not only provides the illumination to each and every step. It offers illumination toward the destination. For those who have placed their trust in Jesus Christ, our future and eternity is illuminated. But don’t forget to look down as we continue on this journey.

Much like your favourite hike, our eyes transition back and forth from feet to trail. This keeps our feet on solid ground while continuing our forward motion. And every once in a while, we pause to look at our guidebook.

Join the Conversation, Leave Your Thoughts

When you travel do you use a guidebook? If so, what do you find most useful about guidebooks?