O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps

"Which Way to Bermuda?"

Reza Baluchi, an endurance runner, had some big plans.  He aimed to “walk on water” in a hydropod – an inflatable bubble – for more than a 1,000 miles in the Bermuda Triangle in the Atlantic Ocean.  His supplies included protein bars, bottled water, a GPS and a satellite phone.

A Coast Guard dispatcher warned Baluchi on Wednesday, October 1:  “If you run into trouble, there’s no guarantee that we’ll be able to get to you in time or even find you.”

But Baluchi was determined to proceed on his journey to Bermuda from South Florida.

On Saturday morning, Baluchi, 42, was fatigued and activated his personal locating beacon, signaling the Coast Guard for help.  The Coast Guard found him 70 nautical miles off the coast of St. Augustine, FL.  A rescue basket was lowered from the Coast Guard helicopter, and after locating Baluchi, a swimmer was sent to rescue him.

Baluchi was exhausted but not injured and was “reportedly disoriented and asking for directions to Bermuda,” the Coast Guard said in a statement.

Baluchi’s adventure could represent every person’s venture to find meaning and fulfillment in life.   But unless we choose the right quest, our journeys will also end in disappointment, fatigue, and even disaster (see Matthew 7:13-14).

Jeremiah the prophet said, “O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jeremiah 10:23).  We need guidance from above to know the right way (as well as the wrong ways) to go and how to get there.

The psalmist wrote, “Your word is a LAMP to my feet And a LIGHT to my path”  (Psalm 119:105).  The Word of God reveals that the wrong way is the way of sin which leads to DEATH (Romans 6:23).  The Bible also makes known that although “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), God loves us so much that He gave His Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins so that we might have forgiveness for sin, direction in life, and the gift of eternal life (John 3:16).

God wants ALL men to be saved and enter heaven when this life is over (1 Timothy 2:4).  He sent Jesus to rescue us from sin and death.  Jesus “gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (Galatians 1:4-5).

God will rescue those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Him before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  He will cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7).

Some ask “Which way to Bermuda?”  But the most important question to ask is

“Which way to heaven?”  Jesus answers, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).

Won’t YOU follow the Way (Jesus) all the way to heaven?

David A. Sargent