27 Jan Concrete Arrows
Read Acts 16:1-15
There is a strange network across America that one is unlikely to see except from a singular vantage point: looking down from the sky. They are usually found in very remote locations and in the middle of terrain that is difficult to access.
There, on rocky cliffs and in lonely deserts, are huge concrete arrows. Some are affixed to metal or are part of a small shack. Others have been so eroded by nature that they are barely visible anymore, having been hidden away in areas where severe weather has battered them. Regardless, they all once served the same purpose, to direct early pilots making transcontinental flights.
You would likely drive past one and never know what it is. You would not recognize it or understand its meaning unless you were looking at it from the right perspective, from the sky to toward earth.
In Acts 16, the mighty Apostle Paul is having a hard time going in the right direction. He is travelling for the first time with his young disciple and helper, Timothy. First, they try to go to Asia to preach but the Holy Spirit “forbade” them. Then, they came through Mysia and tried to go to Bithynia but “the Spirit did not permit them”. We do not have the luxury of details concerning how these Holy Spirit roadblocks manifested but we can only imagine that Paul must have been feeling very perplexed, even doubtful of his mission, as he and Timothy went onward to rest in Troas. What kind of leader takes a young, green minister-in-training and wanders from town to town without finding any opportunities to do ministry? As Paul lay down to sleep that evening, did he doubt his own leadership or ability to hear from God? Yet, that very night, Paul received a vision of a man from Macedonia pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
Are you a leader? Have you ever doubted that you are hearing from God or discerning the direction you are meant to go? Have you looked at those around you and secretly wondered if they were thinking those kinds of thoughts about your leadership?
There’s something comforting about the realization that Paul was, after all, only human. We don’t know what he was thinking but we can imagine his excitement and relief when the vision soon led to opportunities in Philippi and Lydia’s conversion, along with provision through her that sustained their ministry.
In the 1920’s, massive concrete arrows were put in place for the very few pilots who would make transcontinental flights in those early days of aviation. Across the wild landscape of America, they were signs created for one purpose only, to guide pilots when there were few navigation tools or trustworthy maps. They were signs that would not be seen by anyone except the very few who were already up in the air.
The Lord is guiding you, more than you realize. There’s a call, just as sure as Paul’s Macedonian, that is just for you and the people you lead. Like the pilots looking down over the landscape, it’s a sign for your eyes alone and can only been seen after you’ve taken off and are already on your way.