Who was Daniel Boone?

What American isn't a fan of Daniel Boone? This legendary figure helped
open up
the heart of the continent to early settlers of our country. After reading
a
relatively new biography of Boone last year, I have an even greater respect
for
the risks this man took.

Today, while working with a church in London, Kentucky, I spent some spare
time
at Levi Jackson State Park. I spotted a trail that took off into the woods.
Upon closer inspection I learned that this was part of the "Daniel Boone
Trace",
the trail he blazed to lead settlers from North Carolina into Kentucky. In
his
day, the best passage into the new territory was unknown. By following this
path, pioneers stood a better chance of reaching their desired destinations.

I wonder why no one has named a portable navigation device a "Boone"? There
are
numerous times that I've wanted to get somewhere, but don't know the way.
Using
the GPS, I almost never have any trouble getting there. How times have
changed
since Ol' Dan'l hacked his way through wilderness!

A similar challenge confronted the descendants of Jacob (renamed "Israel" by
God) as they headed out of Egypt in search of their new Promised Land.
Where
was this land? How would they get there? Even Moses was not equipped with
the
information needed for that journey.

God had the information, though, and He was there to lead the people. "And
the
Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by
night
in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. He
did
not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from
before the people" (Exodus 13:21,22). Even Daniel Boone didn't offer
personal
escort to every party that traveled the Trace. But God led His people
personally.

Let's now talk about our own journey, the one we're taking right now toward
eternity. If you know anything about the Bible, you know the desired
destination. We want to reach heaven, to be in the very presence of God.
Do
you know the way, however? Not unless you know the One who blazed the
trail.

Here is how the work of Jesus is presented to us: "Therefore, brethren,
having
boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way
which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh" (Hebrews
10:19,20). The trail Jesus opened for us was a painful one for Him. Only
by
His death on the cross could we ever hope to arrive in the presence of God.

To put the idea in its simplest terms we turn to Jesus Himself: "I am the
way,
the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John
14:6). If our aim is to find our way to eternal bliss, the challenge is
simple:
We must be in Christ.

And how does one come to be found in Christ? Consider what we're told in
Galatians 3:26,27: "For you are all children of God through faith in Christ
Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ."
The terms are simple. The trail has been cleared. All who desire to reach
heaven are now able if they are willing to submit to the Lord's authority.

Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in
spirit
and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you'd like to discuss these
ideas further.

Timothy Hall