Most every year when my wife and I take our annual trip to visit family in the midwest, we travel the same route. After crossing Colorado and Nebraska, we pass through Sioux City, Iowa, and follow Highway 60 northeast into Minnesota. Over the years they've made many improvements to that road, and although we no longer pass through the many quaint Iowa towns, we enjoy the new road.
The first ten miles into Minnesota is a different story. For ten to twelve years now that stretch has laid unfinished, delayed, I'm told, by an ongoing haggle between state and city governments. That segment may still not be done.
The first year we nearly got stuck when we drove onto the unfinished roadbed that was not identified by signs. The finished road just ended, and we sailed out into the mud. During the years since, we've followed sign after detour sign taking us far out of the way until we finally get back to Highway 60. Each year we've been disappointed to find the road incomplete, so I think we'll take another route this year.
We're all traveling a road of life. Some roads we choose seem right and lead us to expect good things. Some roads of life are just plain bad, but we keep taking them anyway. A bad road will not make itself better. Hoping a road will be better will not make it so. We need to travel a different road.
There are times we need to get stuck to realize we can't go that way again. Maybe it will take getting ourselves so clogged with the mud of foolish choices that we will finally see our need for help. We don't just need a better road, and we need a map to show us where best to travel.
That road map is the Bible. It tells us our Good Lord walked the way of sorrows on earth to forgive us our sins. He was mired in the mud and the blood of Calvary so we could have a way out. He got stuck for us, but He got out, too.
Now Jesus wants to travel with us, and if we let Him, He will show us a better way. Traveling with Him is an amazing adventure. He's there when we have an accident, and He shows us a better way when we get confused. When Jesus is by our side, we may still take a wrong turn, but we won't get totally lost. He knows the right way and will lead us there if we will just let Him.
Remember what He has told us in His famous "Good Shepherd" Psalm? "He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake." (Psalm 23:3) He really does! Follow Him, and He'll show the Good Road to heaven.
Which road of life will you travel today?
No comments:
Post a Comment