Charted

What is Charted?

Like a master surveyor, Jesus gives us clear directions to find a fulfilling, purpose-filled relationship with Himself - a map to the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Charted is a daily devotional written by the junior class at Fountainview Academy (Class of 2019). Based on the book Steps to Christ, this book explores the path to the Originator and Provider of Genuine Joy. We don't have to be confused about the way. The certainty is in the journey: divinely Charted.

Our hearts are evil, and we cannot change them. “Who can bring a
clean thing out of an unclean? not one.” Job 14:4. – Steps to Christ,
pg. 18
It was a typical Monday morning work schedule, and Miranda
and I were in the cafeteria hunched over wooden crates, husking corn.
Industriousness progressively evaded us as the corn cobs, each more
imperfect than the last, plummeted from our listless hands into the
bucket. There are no good ears of corn. I tucked a wisp of hair back
under my hairnet and sighed at the monotony of life. Suddenly, a gasp
of disbelief broke the dull silence. Miranda’s green eyes widened as
she extended a partially husked ear of corn in my direction.
“It’s perfect!” she squealed, and I had to agree, so together we
gazed at the vegetable masterpiece. Luscious yellow kernels fought
for room on the sizable cob, and a tassel of silk peeked out from the
tender green husks. All previous ears of corn were forgotten as this
vision of beauty held us captive. Miranda raised a reverent hand to
peel away the last fragment of husk and release the King of Corncobs
from his confines.
“Aghhh!”
Our worshipful expressions changed to shock and disgust,
and the vision of a perfect ear of corn melted away. What now lay
on the table looked like something out of a vegetable horror movie,
teeming with worms and blue mold. Miranda spat out something to the
effect that it resembled a rotten scarecrow. Disgusted, we returned to
the detestable chore of peeling away stringy husks from inferior and
sparsely covered cobs. Our spirits were dashed, along with the corn
cob we unceremoniously hurled into the compost pile.
Often my heart is like that corncob. I fool myself into thinking
that I’m not that bad, and I conceal my flaws behind a misleading
mask. But God says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of
God” (Romans 3:23 NIV). As He peels back the pretense of a perfect
exterior, He sees my heart for what it truly is—completely destroyed by
sin. Yet ironically, God doesn’t fling me into the compost pile. Instead,
He gathers my sin-spotted soul into His hands, and what was once a
putrid sight is made completely whole.