Show Us The Way

Each year tourists from many parts of the world visit County Cavan. The rugged landscape, rolling hills and shimmering lakes hold a charm and beauty often referred to in songs and stories of Ireland. Visitors travel the highways and byways of Cavan determined to visit as many of her places of interest as possible. You will see them sitting by the roadside examining their well-marked maps. They can be seen at many of the cross - roads reading the signposts. All of them are seeking direction to their desired destination.

Some tourists look for signposts to Tonagh, scene of a cruel eviction that will always be remembered by the people of Cavan. The whole county was very badly affected by the potato blight of 1845-1849. Thousands of people died from hunger and disease. Hundreds of people who lived in Tonagh, in the parish of Mountnugent, were evicted from their homes during the winter of ‘Black ’47’. The roofs of their little cabins were then torn down in order to prevent them from re-entering. Men, women and children, already weakened by the ravages of hunger, were now consigned to the highways and byways, where they were at the mercy of the harsh winter weather. A combination of famine, disease, eviction and emigration reduced the population of Co. Cavan from 250,000 in 1841 to 174,000 in 1851.

You will find many holidaymakers looking for the road to Ballyjamesduff. This village was immortalised by composer Percy French who wrote the song entitled – ‘Come back, Paddy Reilly, to Ballyjamesduff’.

Lough Oughter is known as a ‘Fisherman’s Paradise’ and attracts anglers from as far away as Germany and France. Killeshandra, Killykeen Forest Park and Lough Sheelin are just some of the places sought after by the tourists.

Many visitors wish to see one of the little thatched cottages that can be found in remote rural areas of Cavan. There they will find things have not changed very much from the way they used to be many years ago. In some of these cottages the ‘Bean-a- TÍ’ can be seen baking cake-bread in the black oven-pot hanging from the crane over the open fire. With a long tongs she removes glowing cinders from the fire and places them on the lid of the oven-pot in order to regulate the amount of heat needed for the bread. The man of the house, smoking his pipe, sits at the open hearth slowly turning the wheel that operates the bellows. This keeps the fire glowing.

Many of the tourists come from various parts of the world and very often need the assistance of the local people in order to reach their desired destination. They will point to an area on their map or try to pronounce the name of the place they desire to reach. Some will ask, in broken English - “Please show us the way.” The friendly people of Cavan are always willing to point them in the right direction.

Show Us the Way:

During the Christmas Season we are reminded of visitors from a foreign country who travelled a long journey. In order to reach their desired destination they needed assistance. ‘Please show us the way’, was surely the prayer of their hearts as they set out on their journey. They did not have an Ordnance Survey Road Map or the help afforded by signposts erected by the Local County Councils. These men were not looking for a location, but a Person. In order to find Him they would need to travel many miles.

The following account of their journey is recorded for us in the Scriptures – ‘..Behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying - “Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.” ’

These men were searching for the Saviour. But they were not sure of how to find Him. They needed direction. And God provided it.

‘..And, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh’. (Matthew 2 vs 1, 2, 9 -11)

Their desire had been that they might find the Saviour. God directed them, and the desire of their hearts was fulfilled. On the very first Christmas those who searched for the Saviour found Him.

Show Us the Way:

Thirty - three years later Jesus informed the Apostles that He would shortly be leaving them. At the Last Supper He told them He would soon be returning to Heaven. He said - ‘Whither I go ye know, and the way ye know’.

Thomas said to Him – ‘Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?’ This Apostle’s desired destination was Heaven. But he did not know how to get there. ‘How can we know the way?’ Thomas asked. In other words he was asking the Lord – ‘Please show us the way’. He needed direction. And the Lord provided it.

‘Jesus answered – “I am the way, the truth, and the life: No man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” ’ (John 14 vs 4 - 6) He was explaining to Thomas that the only way to Heaven was through a personal relationship with Him.

Show Us the Way:

Today, two thousand years later, most people are no different than Thomas. Their desired destination is Heaven. But they are not sure of how to get there. Some are depending upon being religious, and are doing their best to lead a good life. Others believe that by being sincere, charitable and honest they may arrive in Heaven some day. Multitudes are hoping that pilgrimages, penance or prayers will help them make the journey.

But none of these things can save us. In God’s Word we read – ‘Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost’. (Titus 3 v 5)

‘For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast’. (Ephesians 2 vs 8, 9)

Some people think they are not too bad and that they are better than others. But according to the Scriptures we are ALL sinners – ‘There is no difference, for ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of God’. (Romans 3 vs 22, 23)

Those who die in their sins will spend eternity suffering in Hell –

‘Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels’. (Matthew 25 v 41)

The Scriptures make it very clear that there is only ONE way by which sinners can get to Heaven, and that is through faith in Christ. Jesus said – ‘I am the way…No man cometh unto the Father but by me’.

The Lord suffered and died at Calvary as a Substitute for all who will repent of their sins and trust Him as Saviour. On the cross He paid in full the penalty for the guilt of their sins. He has provided for the repentant sinner the gift of eternal life. This is something we could never earn or merit through religious exercises or good works.

Show Me the Way:

Dear Friend, perhaps like many others the desire of your heart is to get to Heaven. But you are not sure of how to get there. It may be that you have been travelling in the wrong direction. You may be on the wrong road. You may even be at a cross-roads in your life and are not sure which way to turn.

Be very careful which direction you take. Jesus said – ‘Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it’. (Matthew 7 vs 13, 14).

The Scriptures teach us that - ‘There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death’. (Proverbs 14 v 12)

The Word of God is like a signpost. It will point you in the right direction. It will ‘SHOW YOU THE WAY’. It will point you to Jesus. He is the ONLY way to Heaven.

Friend, why not turn to Him right NOW in repentance, asking Him to forgive you and trusting Him to save you. DO NOT DELAY, for your journey may soon come to an end.

‘Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near’. (Isaiah 55 v 6)

‘Come NOW, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool’. (Isaiah 1 v 18)

‘I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, NOW is the accepted time; behold, NOW is the day of salvation’. (2 Corinthians 6 v 2)

Remember you are nearer the end of life’s journey TODAY than you were YESTERDAY.

© Dick Keogh