My husband and I had just returned from an emergency trip to Europe to bury my father-in-law. We were exhausted, emotionally as well as physically, and all I could think about was seeing my young son, who we had left in the care of my mother.
Our dear friend Luke (not his real name), had agreed to pick us up from the airport in the middle of the night to drive us home, and the sight of his friendly face was like that of water in a parched desert. We piled into the car, my husband in front with Luke, and me in the back seat, and we began the long drive home.
I didn’t worry about the road. Luke was an experienced driver with lots of driving time in this particular city, and we were about forty-five minutes into the drive before I realized something was wrong. The highway signs weren’t indicating the correct exits. And when I sat up to pay more attention, I realized that the towns along the way were all wrong.
It was dark, so the signs posted along the side of the highway were difficult to read, but after another five kilometers I saw the sign I was searching for: The sign bearing the name of the highway.
Initially the sight was a relief, for it did, indeed, indicate the name of the highway we were supposed to be taking. But then my eyes went to the direction: East! Our home lay WEST of the airport! We were on the right road, but we were going the wrong way!
Luke, horrified by his mistake, quickly exited the highway and got back on, this time going west, and in the end, we all had a good laugh about being on the right road, but going in the wrong direction.
It makes me think, though. There are many roads we can take in life, but only one leads us in the right direction. How can we know if we are on the right road? And if we ARE on the right road, as we were that night 18 years ago, are we taking it the right direction? Are we truly heading home, or are we going in the opposite direction?
Luke was convinced he was going the right way. He was completely sincere in his belief. But sincerity and conviction alone do not ensure we are on the right road!
On the west coast of the United States, there is a highway that runs north to south, connecting the Canadian border with Mexico. Highway 5 is its name. I have driven Highway 5 on many occasions, and though I’ve never done so all at once, I’ve been over every inch of the road.
But what if I start out in San Francisco, California, with my destination the Canadian border, but I am completely and sincerely convicted that I need to head south on Highway 5? I can drive as far south as I wish, but I will not arrive in Canada! Why? Because Canada is north of San Francisco, and no matter how sincere and convicted I am that I am on the right road, as long as I’m headed south on Highway 5, I will NEVER end up in Canada!
Friends, it is heavy on my heart today that we each take a moment to verify that we are on the right road in life. It may be that you have dreamed of being a doctor all your life. But when it comes time to fill out that application for University, you need to make sure that is the right road for you. It may be that you have been in love with someone for more years than you can remember. But before agreeing to go out with that person, you need to make sure it is the right path for you. You may have been given an offer for a position you have dreamed of having. But before accepting it, you need to ensure this is the right road! If you don’t, then you could very well end up driving south on Highway 5, wondering why you aren’t getting any closer to Canada!
The same is true of religion. It doesn’t matter that it is the religion of our ancestors. The fact that our friends go to that church is totally non-consequential. We can be as convicted and sincere as anyone, but if the religion we belong to doesn’t teach full Biblical Truth, we are on the wrong road!
So how can we ensure we are on the right path?
Remember Jesus’ words: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6 NKJV)
Jesus Christ is Truth, friends! And we can go to Him to know Truth! He has promised, by His Spirit, to lead us into all Truth: “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth …” (John 16:13-14 NKJV) All we need to do is to humble ourselves before God. We need to ask for His Spirit to guide us, to unblind our eyes, to unstop our ears, to line our spirits up with His. He will tell us! And once He does, then we, like Luke so many years ago, must humbly get ourselves off the wrong path and onto the right one!
I challenge each of you today to take the time to examine the things you’ve always taken as Truth, and check them out with God. Pray sincerely. He WILL put you on the right path! All you have to do is trust Him!
In His love,
Lyn