October 1, 2026
Albert Einstein was on a train bound for New York when the ticket taker came through his section. The renowned physicist searched his pockets, yet could not find his ticket. He turned both coat and pants pockets inside out, but was still unsuccessful. “Don’t worry, Mr. Einstein,” said the trainman, “We all know who you are. Forget about it.”
About twenty minutes later, the ticket taker came back around. By this time, Einstein was on the floor, searching frantically. Again, the trainman reassured him, “I told you not to worry about the lost ticket. We trust that you purchased one, and that’s good enough for us.”
Looking up, Einstein said, “Young man, this isn’t a matter of trust but of direction. I need to find the ticket because I forgot where I am going.”
This story describes masses of people in society, especially from a spiritual standpoint. With that in mind, do you know where you are going? As we ponder this question, let's break it down into two parts.
First, do you know where you are going when you die? Tragically, some don’t even believe in the afterlife. And if they do, when you ask if they plan to go to heaven, many will say, “I’m not sure” or “I think so.”
According to the Bible, you can know. “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13, NASB emphasis added).
If you’re a born-again believer, you don’t have to wonder about your eternal destination. That determination is made while you are still alive, not after you pass on. If you’ve repented of your sin and received Jesus as Savior, your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life in heaven.
You’re going to sin. You’re going to face trials and temptations from the enemy. Yet no one can snatch you out of the grasp of Jesus and away from the seal of the Holy Spirit (see John 10:28, Ephesians 4:30).
Finally, do you know where you are headed in time? There's the old saying that goes, “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there.” That said, you don’t want to take just any road; you want to take the right road.
That doesn’t mean you’re signing up for a rigid, predictable walk through life. One should always be open to God’s serendipitous surprises. He delights in us and desires that we experience joy along our present journey.
Certainly, there will be those times when you come to a fork in the road. And when you do, rather than “take it,” as Yogi Berra advises, ask God for directions.
One practice that made David a man after God’s own heart is that he consistently “inquired of the Lord" (see 1 Samuel 23:2-4, 1 Samuel 23:10-12, 1 Samuel 30:8, 2 Samuel 5:19). Whether it was going into battle or facing a famine, the King went to God first before making his move. Along with that, ponder these words from Proverbs 3:3,5 as well:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.”
Upon receiving God’s counsel, set goals, form a plan, and establish focus. According to the late Mary Kay Ash, the cosmetic mogul who attributed her billion-dollar success to God, "An average person with average talents and ambition and average education, can outstrip the most brilliant genius in our society, if that person has clear, focused goals.”
In Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, the young girl said to the Cheshire Cat, “Would you please tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?” “That depends a good deal on where you want to get,” replied the cat. “I don’t much care where,” said Alice. To which the Cheshire responded, “Then it doesn’t matter which way you go.”
It’s a cute story, but life isn’t a fairytale. It matters much where you are going, both in this life and the one to come.
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Todd Gaddis is a semi-retired minister living in Athens. He continues to serve as an interim pastor and can be reached at jtoddgaddis@gmail.com.
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