Recently hubby and I had the opportunity of visiting Rome with a group through Inspiration Tours.
Our large group of 80 people was divided into several smaller touring groups. Hubby’s and my small group wound up being 15 people – with Franco Assorgi as our tour guide. Franco was the best tour guide ever! Franco has been leading tours for the past 38 years and is a walking library of any and all historical information related to Rome.
At the beginning of our time with Franco he handed out little “radios” for each of us. These “radios” were attached to lanyards which we wore around our neck.
We did not need to do anything to turn our “radio” on … it was already on. Each of our “radios” was controlled by Franco’s “master radio.” When Franco plugged his microphone into his “master radio” all our little receiver “radios” came on and we heard his voice through the earpiece in our ear.
There were hundreds of other tour guides in Rome, all leading hundreds of other tour groups. Yet Franco’s voice was the one and only voice we heard through the earpiece in our ear. This is because each of our little “radios” was specifically tuned to the same frequency as Franco’s “master radio.”
As our little group of 15 toured all around the historical sights of Rome, not once did we ever hear the voice of another tour guide which walked past our group with their group. Franco’s voice was the one and only voice we heard coming through our earpiece.
Additionally, Franco’s “master radio” transmitted a surprising distance. There were times, as we toured all around Rome, that we would accidentally get separated from Franco due to the press of the crowds and the masses of people! But not to fear … we could still hear Franco’s voice coming through loud and clear in our earpiece. We knew Franco was close by. We knew Franco was just up ahead. So all was ok.
But … if we didn’t keep up with Franco … if we lagged behind or got distracted and didn’t pay attention, Franco’s “master radio” would move out of the range for our little receiver “radios” to pick up. Franco’s voice would begin breaking-up in our earpiece. It was then we knew we needed to pay attention! We needed to keep up! We were in danger of getting lost from our tour guide and our tour group.
As our little group of 15 toured all around Rome following our master tour guide Franco, I couldn’t help thinking how following Franco is a lot like following the Holy Spirit.
If we have put all of our faith & trust in Jesus Christ, accepting his free gift of salvation for our sins, Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit to be our helper … our counselor … our comforter. The Holy Spirit is our “tour guide” so to speak.
The purpose of the Holy Spirit is to lead & guide us through life, showing us how to live as we follow Jesus Christ.
Here you can see Franco in his bright yellow shirt, with our group sign (2A) on a long stick, as he instructs us at the beginning of our tour through the Vatican Museum. Franco’s bright yellow shirt was easy for us to spot in the crowds of people. Our group sign (2A) which Franco carried was easy for us to spot in the crowds of people.
In much the same way, just as Franco’s bright bold yellow shirt was our guide-post to follow … so also, God’s Word (the Bible) is the “bright bold yellow shirt” which the Holy Spirit uses as a guide-post for us to follow, as we follow the Holy Spirit’s leading through life.
Just as our group sign (2A) held on Franco’s long stick over his shoulder was easy for us to spot as we navigated the press of the crowds and the masses of people … so also, in the same way, the Bible is the “group sign” for us to follow as we navigate the press of life.
Here you can see a glimpse of what it was like as we toured through the Vatican Museum. None of us in our small group of 15 had a map of the Vatican Museum. We did not know the layout of the museum. We did not know what the different rooms or galleries were; nor did we know what art pieces there were to see.
We simply trusted our tour guide. Franco knows the Vatican Museum well! He has been bringing groups through here for the past 38 years. Our tour guide knows exactly where to take us. Our tour guide knows exactly what to show us.
But we must follow our tour guide! In the crowded mass of people can you spot Franco in his bright yellow shirt? There he is, over on the right.
We can’t dilly-dally or lag behind. We must keep up with our tour guide! Or we will get lost.
And so it is as we follow the leading of the Holy Spirit through life. The Holy Spirit knows exactly what he is doing. The Holy Spirit knows exactly where he is taking us. In the press of life we must keep our eyes on the “bright yellow signpost” (aka: the Bible) which the Holy Spirit is using to direct us!
And we can’t dilly-dally or lag behind! We must keep up with our tour guide! Or we will get lost.
Here you can see Franco leading us up a set of stairs from one level to a higher level.
So also, when it comes to the Holy Spirit’s guidance in our life … sometimes he takes us from one level of personal/spiritual growth up to a higher level. He leads us from one level of maturity up to the next level.
Here you can see Franco stopping to explain things to our group. He is making things clear for us.
So also, the Holy Spirit pauses along the way to explain things to us, to make things clear for us.
How does he do this?? Primarily by the Bible. Sometimes as we read the Bible things which we have been confused about become clear for us. Sometimes the Holy Spirit uses the wisdom of other people to help explain and make things more clear for us. Sometimes the Holy Spirit uses life circumstances to bring clarity for us. Sometimes the Holy Spirit uses our own foolish & stupid mistakes to help bring wisdom and understanding for us.
Here you can see Franco instructing us in some important facts of history which we never knew before.
In the same way, the Holy Spirit instructs us in deep matters of doctrine and spiritual wisdom which we never knew before. He does this through God’s Word – the Bible.
Here you can see Franco leading us through the doorway into the next section of the museum.
So also, in the same way, the Holy Spirit leads us “through the doorway” from one phase of life into a new and different phase of life. From one place of employment into a new and different place of employment. From one season of life into a new and different season of life.
It might be scary to step through the doorway.
We have no idea what is on the other side of that doorway. We have no idea what is in the next room. But we trust our tour guide. We follow our tour guide.
Whoa!! Now that’s a bit overwhelming. It’s stunningly beautiful … but look at all those people! Those masses of people are intimidating! And look how long this corridor is! Can I really make it through all those masses of people to reach the other end of that long long corridor??
It’s ok … there’s Franco. Can you see him in his bright yellow shirt? He’s looking back to make sure we’re all here. He’s looking after us. He’s taking care of us.
So also, this is what the Holy Spirit does in our life. As the Holy Spirit leads us into a new phase of life – into a new season of life – he knows we are overwhelmed. He is right there looking out for us. He is right there taking care of us. He won’t lose any of his “tour group.” The Lord doesn’t lose any which belong to him!
And here you can see Franco leading us down the long long corridor. The crowds weren’t that bad after all. The artwork on the ceiling was breathtaking. The paintings on the wall left us in awe! We really enjoyed the walk down the long long corridor.
And this is what the Holy Spirit does in our life … as he leads us and guides us through each of life’s phases and seasons. We find out there is much to marvel over in this new phase of life. We discover that we really enjoy this season of life after all.
Just like there were lots of other tour guides leading lots of other tour groups around us in Rome … so also, in much the same way, there are a lot of other spiritualities and belief systems out there in life wanting us to take their “radio” and put their “earpiece” in our ear.
We look around us and we see lots of people everywhere with “earpieces” in their ears … following the voice of a “tour guide.” It might the voice of social media. It might be the voice of politics. It might be the voice of famous celebrities. It might be the voice of another belief system apart from Jesus Christ.
Who are you following as a “tour guide” through life?
Whose voice is speaking to you through the “earpiece” in your ear?
