Follow the Leader

“And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have supremacy.”                                    

                                                      Colossians 1:18

A few years ago, my husband blessed me with a trip to Paris for our thirtieth anniversary.  It was one of those vacations of your dreams.  The kind that make the bucket list but you aren’t really sure you will ever experience.  The trip was exceptional.  What made is exceptional wasn’t so much the beauty and majesty of Paris, although that in itself was stunning, but a tour guide.  Not just any tour guide, a Parisian tour guide.  And that was what made all the difference. 

Traveling with a guide offers many benefits that you might not enjoy when going it on your own.  Sure you can read all the tour books and do all the research but it isn’t the same as exploring an unfamiliar part of the world along side of someone who has actually lived there and is saturated with the its’ culture. 

Because of my rather skeptical and independent nature, I kept a safe distance from our tour guide.  But as the trip progressed I found myself naturally gravitating towards him till eventually I wanted to be close enough that not one word would fall to the ground without my hearing it.  Not. One. Word.

Why?  Well firstly, he knew the language.  It is really helpful to have someone around who can speak the language.  I found it very disconcerting not to understand anything that was being said.  True if you were polite enough, Parisians will often speak English with you.  But they didn’t seem to like it. 

Secondly, he knew the history.  He was able to explain the backstory behind every place that we visited down to the finest details.  This only added to the brilliance of the city and the richness of its’ culture.

Thirdly, he knew the customs.  Did you know in a Paris cafe, when you are escorted to a table, it is generally understood that that table is yours for the evening.  For as long as you desire, you may relax and enjoy your meal, company or the sights.

Another custom, if you walk into a shop and don’t acknowledge the shopkeepers with a hearty “Bonjour! Comment allez-vous?” (Hello!  How are you?)  You will be ignored.  Yup!  They are very high on manners in Paris.  I confess.  I loved that.  I have made it a practice since my return.  I try to never seek assistance in any store without giving a hearty hello first.  Unfortunately, it isn’t as embraced here as it is in Paris.  I get weird looks.  Especially when I say it in French. 

Lastly, our guide knew secrets.  He would tell us some stunning accounts from French history, the kind that you might not find within the pages of any classroom History book.   You know, the ones that are shared in a whisper rather than from a bullhorn.  

Yet for all of these benefits, there was one caveat, you had to stay close to the guide.  If you were way in the back, or distracted by the sights or taking pictures, or any of a zillion things (Paris is like that) you will miss out on the benefits of having a guide. 

“And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have supremacy.”                                

                                                      Colossians 1:18 (emphasis mine)

Spiritually speaking, Jesus is our guide.  He knows languages, history, customs and secret stuff.  If we are going to progress in our walk of faith, we are going to need to stay close to our guide.  He is the head of the body, the church.  Not a person, Jesus.

I think sometimes, we get confused.  I know that I have.  We confuse people with Jesus.  We confuse even spiritual people with Jesus.  We see someone who is really spiritual and we start to follow them.  We don’t do it on purpose; it is our inclination to follow.  God made us to be followers.  But He wants us to follow Him and not a person. 

Why?  Let me explain through my tour guide illustration.  When I was in Paris, I was part of a group.  Several of those in the group had guide-books and even some had been to Paris before.  But none of them were Parisian.  Sure they might have known about Paris but they weren’t Parisian.  If they were leading the way, I could have followed them. I might have even had a great time.  But it would have been a second rate experience.  Not the genuine deal but a lesser one.   A former pastor used to say it like this “settling for ground meat, when you could have had filet mignon”. 

I want the real deal.  Not a second rate experience.  Not only when it comes to travel guides, but my spiritual guidance as well.  In order to enjoy that, I need to stay close to the guide.  That happens through prayer, scripture and worship.  No man can ever bring me the genuine experience that I long for in my faith walk.  Neither can any church.  We need to let that pipe dream go. 

Jesus is the head of the church.  It is only He we should be following.  He is the one we want to hear from.  For He can interpret for us the language that we don’t quite understand.  He knows the history and the future that is laid out for us, for He is the history and the future.  He explains customs and things we don’t readily grasp and understand spiritually.  Lastly, He knows secrets.  Amazing spiritual secrets.  But we need to stay close because He only reveals them in a whisper.  I want to hear Jesus whisper.  You?

Deep in your heart it is not guidance that you want as much as a guide.

                                                    John White