Knowing Captain

Presently, we are looking at these words of Charles Wesley, taken from one of his well-loved and frequently sung hymns. ‘Captain of Israel’s host and Guide’. Here are the words, repeated for us.

By Thy unerring Spirit led,

We shall not in the desert stray,

We shall not full direction need,

Nor miss our providential way;

As far from danger as from fear,

When love, almighty love, is near.

Having discoursed on the fact that Holy Spirit is unerring, and that with Him as our Guide, we shall not stray in desert places, we continue with the third identified, infallible fact upon which our faith can securely roost.

We shall not full direction need,

Nor miss our providential way.

There is much going on here with our Captain Holy Spirit. Though I have put these two lines together as one, since they are interlocked with each other, I want us to consider two phrases which show themselves in each line. First, we take hold of the phrase, full direction. There’s something about the little word full, which makes it most expressively and compellingly strong and big, when it prefixes some deep, Spiritual doctrines. Here are some examples. Many of our Christian leaders speak to us about, full salvation, full assurance and full life in Jesus. I believe Mr. Wesley is using the word, full, in the same sense, when he speaks of, full direction.

Let’s turn our attention to the tourist liner as it sails into port. The truth is that I have never sailed on such luxury cruises, but I have close family and friends whose great holiday delight, is going on specific cruises, to see different parts of the world. From what they’ve told me, it’s no different from what takes place on the airplane, in terms of what the captain speaks during the journey. What I mean is this. The captain will come over the microphone and draw your attention to certain places being passed, along the way. He or she may say that we are travelling in a north-easterly direction and then we will veer east. The point being made is that the captain never gives you full directions, full details, as it will be of little or no use to you. In fact, it may cause undue confusion in your minds. Just enough to whet your nautical appetite, is fed to you.

The same is true with our Captain Holy Spirit. He gives us what He decides we need to know, as He knows that our minds will not be able to contain the whole, at the moment.

Permit me to link this to Jesus and His disciples. Jesus has been captaining and guiding His disciples along the seas of discipleship. He knows His destination and guides His ship to suit. They are now at a place, a sort of sad, desert place if you like, where He is directing them on terrible things which they will soon have to face, as He steers them valiantly on. However, He is most candid and tells them that He cannot give them full details, full directions, because it would be too much for them to contain, at that time. I have very many things to say to you, but ye cannot bear them now. John 16: 12.

Our Captain knows exactly what information to reveal to us about the course and directions He is following and in His supreme wisdom, says that we do not need full direction. He gives us all that we need, and if we would trust Him more and know that He is fully committed to captain us safely to port, then shouldn’t we be contented and comfortable with what He tells us, and leave all the rest to Him?

Let’s be candid about this. Look at the passengers on the liner who have been given some information about directions. Understand this! Regardless of what they have been told, it does not in any way give them license or right to take over the captain’s role.  They are not made co-captains with him. He still is the one and only captain and they each have to depend on him to bring them to the desired destination.

The same is true with Captain Holy Spirit. Regardless of what He has revealed to us, we must never ever become swell-headed and think that we now know all about our life-journey. No! A thousand times no! Holy Spirit is our indivisible Captain and only He knows the full way He takes. Only He can safely, faithfully and victoriously bring us to port.

Why do you need to have full direction?

When you know little of navigation?