Watch-out Traffic Light!

Genesis 12:1-5

Meaning and Purpose of Life: “Watch out traffic light!”

Introduction: A professor once noted, “It’s better to be little late than die”, referring to his friend, who tragically died from an accident in an attempt to catch green light. In times like today when everything’s running—pali-pali—we want to keep up our steps with those running hours. So, many times we rush and run even ahead of God. Today, from the life-story of Abraham, we would like to remind ourselves to watch out the traffic light—what God is saying to do next. If God says “stay (red)”, let us rather be little late. Or, if God says “go (green)”, let us move though no one’s moving. So, watch out your traffic light!

The Call & Demand (v. 1): When everything’s seem going fine/OK to hang on, God’s personal call suddenly came. Now, Abraham has to move; green light from God is coming. Yes, God is PERSONAL God—not just a being—who can talk, speak, and even direct our path. To Abraham, all of his personal life-goal and dream came from this God. The same way, men/women of God!, to watch out to this spiritual traffic light is so much important in our life to know when to go, where to go, and what to do next. All our dreams and purposes should come from God, the original designer of life. He knows best! However, every good things are never cheap. The call from God is actually a demand to do something even to leave our comfort zone. Yes, men of faith/vision never stop striving; they never hang on easy way if a call from God comes. This is our calling too, if to take a walk with God.

The Promise & Guarantee (vv. 2-3): In faithful obedience to God’s calling, there’s always blessing. The blessing is not only about “you will be blessed” but about even to become a “key to blessing.” For detail, his obedience to fulfill God’s call even by leaving his comfort-zone means to Abraham, first, to become a bearer of all blessing (v. 2) and, second, to become even a custodian/keeper of blessing of all nations (v. 3). Though it’s in the midst of potential danger of threat from those nations, he’s a KEY to blessing…if you bless him, you’ll be blessed; and if you despise (not even a curse) him, you’ll be cursed (more than despise). In another sense, it’s a kind of protection for Abraham who left his own safe-zone for God’s sake. Therefore, not only being blessed (bearer of blessing) but also a blessing he himself will be (keeper of blessing)…Key for blessing!

The Adventure of Faith (vv. 4-5): What is faith? This is our response to God’s call and is our receiving hand for what He’s gonna give us. However, this faith doesn’t have any other substantial evidences except “God said”. Therefore, this is kind of adventure in believing the unseen God. Yes, Abraham did not have map or any direction to where he’s going except “God said ‘go’”. However, completely believing in God and trusting His personal direction, he began leaving his safe-home to reach the place he’d never seen. This is a new beginning of life in trusting God. At that time, he was seventy and five. Friends, never too late nor too old to start a new life in trusting and obeying God.

Personal Application:

• How many times did I counsel God [prayer and His word] for the plan/project that I’m presently carrying out? If none, please, take a short time—you’ve got a ‘red light’—to confess your rushing nature that runs even ahead of God, and pray for His direction?
• What obstacle or difficulty are you currently encountering in your life, family, business though you thought started with God? Don’t be afraid! You’ve got ‘orange light’ to wait for God’s timing until you see final result.