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.

In all the Bible there is not a more fearful warning against trifling with
evil than the words of the wise man that the sinner “shall be holden
with the cords of his sins.” – Steps to Christ, pg. 34
All the students listened attentively on the edge of their seats.
Mr. Pasos, our head dean, was preaching this Sabbath, and we were
caught up in the story of his personal testimony. There is no doubt
he has a grip on the audience, I thought as I momentarily shifted my
attention from the story to look at all my friends’ attentive faces.
At that particular point in the sermon, the story Mr. Pasos
was recounting was about when he and his best friend had caught
a tarantula. After the hard work they had put into attracting the
dangerous insect and trapping it, neither was receptive to the idea of
setting it free, but rather preferred to keep it to remind them of their
exultant success in catching a tarantula.
Making a quick consideration of his options, Mr. Pasos
convinced his friend to put the disregarded tarantula (which had no
say about its own future) into an aquarium and set it in their dormitory
room. Now, all their friends would covet this rare possession, or so
they thought.
In the evening, upon returning from their tranquil supper, Mr.
Pasos and his friend went to their room to admire their tarantula, only
to discover with horror that there was no tarantula! We all laughed at
the foolish idea of putting such a treacherous creature in their room.
Who would do such a thing?
At that moment, I realized that I do a similar thing constantly.
I keep temptation and sin close to me, under my very roof, forgetting
that I am harbouring something deadly that will destroy me. In my
human foolishness, I choose not to heed God’s warning and carry
on ignoring the consequences. Through this story, I understood the
danger of setting one’s sin on his own shelf. It isn’t just a tarantula bite
that is at stake, but eternal life.