Speaker: Dr. Harold J. Sala | Series: Guidelines For Living | Jesus once again addressed them: “I am the world’s Light. No one who follows me stumbles around in the darkness. I provide plenty of light to live in.” John 8:12, The Message

In 1953 Hank Williams was riding the crest of his popularity. Millions of people around the world voiced his praise and sang his country tunes, but Williams was far from a happy man. On his way to a stage appearance in Canton, Ohio, Williams slumped over in the back seat of the car he was in. Charlie Carr, the driver of the taxi, immediately headed for the nearest hospital, but it was too late. Williams was D.O.A., dead on arrival. Drugs and alcohol had dealt a lethal blow to his heart, and that night the people, not knowing that Williams was dead, filled the theater where he was booked to perform. As the stage manager made the sad announcement, a single spotlight fell on an empty stage, and the orchestra struck up his then famous song, “I Saw the Light,” a kind of pseudo‑religious song about light in the world.

The sequel to the story is that only days before, Williams and Rosemary Clooney had been riding together and Rosemary said, “Hank, let’s sing.” “Whatcha wanna sing, Rosemary?” And she said, “Let sing your song,” meaning I Saw the Light. The two of them began to sing together, and then Hank put his head in his hands and sobbed, “Aw, Rosemary, there ain’t no light; there ain’t no light!”

Can you relate to the darkness of his soul? You feel alone, frustrated and very much confused, wondering where to go, where to turn. Destiny in life is not the product of chance or fate, but it’s the result of the decisions you make, the direction you go with your life, and the determination you have to reach your goal.

On today’s edition of Guidelines, I’d like to invite you to think about the direction of your life. The Romans asked the question, “Quo vadis?” meaning, “Where are you going?” How would you answer?

Long ago Jesus said, “I am the light of the world; whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). If Jesus is the light of the world, then Williams desperately needed to know that.

Many people, possibly you as well, can be described in the words of Isaiah 59, which say, “We look for light but all is darkness, for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows. Like the blind we grope along the wall, feeling our way like men without eyes” (Isaiah 59:9-10). How do you know which way to go with your life when there are so many possible choices? Long ago the writer of Proverbs said, “There is a way which seems right unto a man, but the ends thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12, KJV), and that you do not want.

Two clear guidelines promise to give you the light you need to go the right direction with your life. Guideline #1: You can discover personally that Jesus Christ is the light of the world as He claimed. He said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me!” (John 14:6).   You’ll never go the wrong direction following His life and teaching.

Guideline #2: God’s Word, the Bible, will give your life direction and a purpose. Of this book David said, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105). This book gives direction for your life, your marriage, your relationships, and your future. But it’s only as good as your willingness to follow its counsel and direction.

A closing thought. What do you do when you’ve started on a journey and discovered that you took the wrong road? Happens all the time, you know. Chances are you don’t go back to your starting point. You make a change of direction to correct your error. That’s how it is with God’s will for your life. It begins afresh every day when you discover your need for Him to redirect your life. Think about it.

Resource reading: John 8.