We are great at celebrating destinations.  We are great at posting an Instagram shot of arriving at our favorite vacation spot. We are quick to find that Starbucks and get a mug that signifies we arrived at our favorite city. We tend to highlight significant markers of arrival in life: graduation, marriage, first job, first child, house purchase, promotions, etc.  Many would label these moments as “I’ve finally arrived” moments.  While these are special moments in life to remember, I would challenge the idea that life is less about arriving at your destination and more about advancing in God’s direction. Eugene Peterson says it this way,

“The essential thing in heaven and in earth is that there be a long obedience in the same direction.  

People have developed the lifestyle of a tourist and only want the high points. A curator of sorts that goes through life collecting spiritual moments like artifiacts that are put on display so we can live in the past, celebrating what was.  There is no desire to wait patiently and devoutly for a true lifelong experience with Jesus resulting in something that makes life worth living.  But there is a new challenge.  Instead of being a sightseer or curator, consider yourself a navigator.  A navigator who moves closer to Jesus in everything they do. 

To navigate means, 1580s, "one who navigates, one who directs the course of a ship," from Latin navigator "sailor," agent noun from navigat-, stem of navigare "to sail, sail over."  Being a navigator means being a person who spends their life going someplace, going to God, and whose path for getting there is the way of Jesus Christ. This is because Jesus is the “way and the truth and the life” (see John 14:5-6).  

The “Christian walk” is about forward motion, not final destination.  Your Christian walk is less about perfection and more about progression. That’s why when you become a Christian, you aren’t suddenly whisked away up to heaven. Your salvation isn’t the end of the journey but it’s just the beginning. It’s about getting you to places that God has ordained for you and that will unlock your future.  Because God has blessed you to be a blessing; God has freed you to free people; God has healed you to heal people; etc. It’s about moving forward into the future that God has for you. And that means you are going to have to make decisions that will move you closer spiritually, financially, relationally, professionally, etc.  into God’s will for your life.

We are familiar with the image of running the race (Hebrews 12:1-3).  I want to give you another image:  to set sail. What if we saw discipleship literally as a ship.  And what if you saw your life as a ship that is needed to set sail.  But your life doesn’t consist as one ship.  They consist as seven ships.  These “ships” are not just metaphors, but they are critical expressions of your life. Each ship is vital in carrying significant parts of you closer to Christ.  If you dn’t recognize these ships, then you won’t recognize the places God wants to take you.  So, let me get you familiar with your fleet:

THE DISCIPLESHIP:  

This ship is about advancing in prayer, scripture and all forms of spiritual growth.  This includes reading your Bible, prayer, fasting, Christian books, etc. 

THE FRIENDSHIP:

This ship is about advancing forward with the different friendships that you have acquired over the years.  We aren’t meant to accomplish our goals and dreams alone. These friendships are a gift from God and are put there for a reason to inspire you and for you to inspire them. 

THE LEADERSHIP:
This ship is about recognizing your authority and leading with that authority at work, in your community, etc.  Not only leading those around you is important but leading yourself well is equally important.  Leading yourself well will ultimately help you lead others well.  So identify those areas in your life that need you to advance forward in your influence.

THE RELATIONSHIP: 
This ship signifies how you can advance forward with those you are related to.  How you interact with your immediate family and extended family is important.  Be specific on what you want to see accomplished in your family this year.  

THE MENTORSHIP:
This ship represents advancing in wisdom by with others who are farther along in the journey than you.  Being intentional with those you have given permission to speak into your life who are ahead of you in life is valuable in showing you the way to go.

THE ATHELTISHIP

This ship represents advancing in your personal health and nutrition. While this word is a creative word I am using in this section, it’s important to recognize your health, fitness and nutrition in your life. 

THE STEWARDSHIP

This ship represents you moving forward financially.  It’s your intentionality with your generosity. 

These ships will move you.  As you stop to analyze where you are “going” in these areas of your life, you can change the course of direction for your life for the better.  So. choose today to take the first step.  Or in other words, to “set sail.” Each choice you make towards your goals is your advancement towards your future that God has for you…the forward motion for your own faith journey. 

Life is a spiritual journey.  Christianity is an adventure.  Or at least it should be.  I would like to believe that the life of follower of Jesus is less about sitting and hoping and more about going and following.  As a matter of fact, the life of a follower of Jesus has always been about this simple command,

“Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me.” Luke 9:23

But God is not a God about North, South, East and West.  Instead God is about bushes that burn in the fields, oceans that are meant for you to stand upon, winds that whisper truth on the mountains and waters that part when you need them to most.  When God speaks we go.  When God burns we turn and follow.  When God speaks our name we step out into storms to meet Him.  When God dries up riverbeds there is no direction but forward for the spiritual traveler.  Jesus didn't settle and neither do we.  For the Christian adventurer, it's less about settling and more about sailing! These seven ships sail on the open sea of your life.  God has called each of us to our own journey.  

And if the sea is your life then these are the key parts of your voyage:

THE HORIZON

My vision of what I see for my future in front of each ship that God set on that horizon.  Having a vision of what you’re moving towards is critical in staying on course.  What you see in front of you on the horizon is where God is taking you and it will always lead you closer to Jesus. 

THE HULL
My character and integrity necessary to stay in the state of floatation.  What’s “underneath” isn’t as always celebrated as what’s seen by everyone. Your character is that part of you that’s submerged but critical for staying afloat.  It’s easy to sink under the heavy weight of your responsibilities.  A hole or a crack in your character can cause you to sink under the weight of your responsibilities, obligations, etc. Taking care of what’s “hidden” will always help you reach your destination.

THE RUDDER

Are my goals that steer me in the right direction.  Goals set the course of where you want to be by the end of the year.  These goals are not just opinions but convictions that will lead you throughout the year to show you the way and get you to where you want to go this year. 

THE SAILS 

Are my system that I use to harness my progression.  Sails aren’t meant to simply be flapping and flying.  Sails were never meant to be “helpless” by the wind but to “harness” the wind by gripping, pulling and leveraging the mechanical advantage of the sail to give you maximum momentum.  When you apply “HOW” you are going to fulfill your goal, you grip the rope and pull on the “tackle” of the sail bringing your energy to the system provided to give you your forward motion.

THE ANCHOR

My moments that I chose to lead me into action. Your anchor is the “WHERE and WHEN” of your goal.  Be specific on your “drop-anchor actions” where you have the time and place in your schedule where you stop what you’re doing and dive into your time you have set aside to meet your goal. 

THE WIND

God’s inspiration to give me motivation.  We can do things in our own strength but we are limited with power and resource.  The wind will be blowing but if we don’t harness it’s power, we will resort to drifting or rowing there ourselves.  But when God blows into our lives, His presence fills our lives to inspire us and carry us to where He has always wanted us to go.  

The New Young Christian is a discipleship platform that focuses on personal inspiration and spiritual formation. We believe that discovering your faith, developing meaningful friendships and encouraging you forward provide substantial meaning for the next generation and are critical for your future as The New Young Christian.