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CHOICES
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
During one of my journeys to a much larger city than what I was accustomed, I chose an exit that was wrong. The traffic was intense that particular day and I was getting a bit antsy with all cars surrounding my space. I noticed a highway that had been running alongside of the highway I was currently journeying. It appeared as though the highway had less traffic, traveling at approximately the same speed, and it was headed in the same direction that I was traveling. For all purposes, it looked like a good option for me to consider, and after a few more miles, I positioned my car to be able to exit at my will. The first couple of exits were tempting, but they didn’t have the correct convenience store I frequent while traveling. Finally, the next exit was the perfect opportunity to get off this crazy pace and get into some relaxed highway traveling. I was lured off the busy highway by the exit and it was refreshing to slow down the pace a bit.
As I was fueling up my car, I surveyed the area around me and was feeling proud that I had made a choice of getting out of the zoo, and back into the forest for some easy driving. After fueling, I purchased a Diet Coke and a bag of Twizzlers for my enjoyable ride to my destination. I pulled back on the highway and headed in the direction I had been traveling on the other highway. I would glance occasionally to my left and smirkly remark that I didn’t understand why those other drivers wouldn’t get onto this highway. We are traveling at the same speed, the road surface is the same, but there was hardly any traffic to contend with as you could change lanes without even looking. It’s not like they didn’t have the same opportunity I had. I passed several exit ramps off and onto the highway. I was traveling in style and thinking highly of myself and the fun I was having due to no traffic.
After ten or fifteen miles I began to see a change in the road surface, it wasn’t as smooth as it had been. Just passed another exit, but I am really enjoying my drive and I am still headed in the same direction. Now the road is down to a two lane “regular” highway with oncoming traffic, but I’m OK because I am still driving in the direction I started and I can still see the main busy highway to my left and there are on ramps every few miles. I told myself that if I saw any problems, I would get back on the main highway and continue my journey. Soon though, the highway began to veer farther away from the main highway. I didn’t recall when I saw the last on-ramp, but surely there will be another coming up the road. I kept driving and driving and getting farther from the main highway and now the sun that was to my left is suddenly at my back. I hadn’t passed any main convenience stores lately, only the mom and pop gas stations in the middle of a small town. I decided that these little towns must take this highway and travel to the big city for supplies. So, I continued to drive until something inside of me told me I needed to make an adjustment in my thinking and ask the next gas station where I was headed.
I pulled into the two pump station and an older gentleman came out to greet me. He had a big smile on his face and it was obvious what the question would be, “Are you lost? He asked and I remember that it was an easy question like he had asked it once before. I replied, “No, I’m not lost, I just don’t know where I am going!” He went on to tell me that the road I was traveling wasn’t going to take me to the destination I desired. That I would eventually end of at the other end of the state and far away from my original goal. I chatted with the older gentleman as he fueled my car. He impressed me with his compassion and spirit of life. He told of a wonderful life he had and how he had provided for his family from this two pump gas station. He was proud of his faithful wife and obedient children. They were a family that respected and loved one another regardless of the outcome. I paid him with the last bit of cash I had and he pointed me in the right direction to get me to my original destination. He also reminded me that just because the road looked better, it may not always be best for me.
As I headed back to the main highway where I poorly exited from, I soon realized the older gentlemen was correct. I was traveling the correct highway with cars on both sides of me to keep me going in the right direction. Yeah, it was frustrating at times, but at least we were all respecting each other’s space and attempting to get to the same destination. Once I chose to exit onto the “easy” and more appealing highway, I didn’t have the cars on each side of me to keep me in my lane and I soon thought everything was about me and my journey.
Over the years I came to truly appreciate this man’s wisdom and the turning my car around to the right destination. Yes, I was late BUT I arrived where I had desired to be at the beginning of my journey. For that I am thankful to a man who made me accountable to my original plans to my destination.
Are you like me in this story? Have you ever made the wrong choice of an exit in life? You thought it was a good idea at the time but after a while realized it was not? You continue to travel the wrong road hoping it’s going the same direction, but that main highway is right there to remind you that you’re not on the right road? If you are a Christian man who has made a bad choice and you are traveling the wrong path hoping for another opportunity to get on the main and right path. As Christian men we have a GPS built into us, it’s called the Holy Spirit. It was telling us to stay on the main highway, but somewhere along the ride, pride kicked in and we got off the road needing to be traveled. First thing to do is stop. You can’t change anything until you stop it and look at the entire picture. 1 John tells us to confess our sin. That’s right-stop and confess the sin. If need be, ask someone for help and the correct direction back to the main highway. The Lord forgives your sin, if you will confess and turn away from it. You must turn your life around and get back on the road the Lord had you on in the first place. It is never too long of a road for a Christian to stop and ask for the Lord’s forgiveness. He is faithful and just to forgive. And if you are not a Christian, you can also stop and ask for directions to the right highway. The Lord Jesus Christ is the only way to Heaven. Get back to the main highway, the one that leads to Christ!
In Christ Name
Bobby
As I was fueling up my car, I surveyed the area around me and was feeling proud that I had made a choice of getting out of the zoo, and back into the forest for some easy driving. After fueling, I purchased a Diet Coke and a bag of Twizzlers for my enjoyable ride to my destination. I pulled back on the highway and headed in the direction I had been traveling on the other highway. I would glance occasionally to my left and smirkly remark that I didn’t understand why those other drivers wouldn’t get onto this highway. We are traveling at the same speed, the road surface is the same, but there was hardly any traffic to contend with as you could change lanes without even looking. It’s not like they didn’t have the same opportunity I had. I passed several exit ramps off and onto the highway. I was traveling in style and thinking highly of myself and the fun I was having due to no traffic.
After ten or fifteen miles I began to see a change in the road surface, it wasn’t as smooth as it had been. Just passed another exit, but I am really enjoying my drive and I am still headed in the same direction. Now the road is down to a two lane “regular” highway with oncoming traffic, but I’m OK because I am still driving in the direction I started and I can still see the main busy highway to my left and there are on ramps every few miles. I told myself that if I saw any problems, I would get back on the main highway and continue my journey. Soon though, the highway began to veer farther away from the main highway. I didn’t recall when I saw the last on-ramp, but surely there will be another coming up the road. I kept driving and driving and getting farther from the main highway and now the sun that was to my left is suddenly at my back. I hadn’t passed any main convenience stores lately, only the mom and pop gas stations in the middle of a small town. I decided that these little towns must take this highway and travel to the big city for supplies. So, I continued to drive until something inside of me told me I needed to make an adjustment in my thinking and ask the next gas station where I was headed.
I pulled into the two pump station and an older gentleman came out to greet me. He had a big smile on his face and it was obvious what the question would be, “Are you lost? He asked and I remember that it was an easy question like he had asked it once before. I replied, “No, I’m not lost, I just don’t know where I am going!” He went on to tell me that the road I was traveling wasn’t going to take me to the destination I desired. That I would eventually end of at the other end of the state and far away from my original goal. I chatted with the older gentleman as he fueled my car. He impressed me with his compassion and spirit of life. He told of a wonderful life he had and how he had provided for his family from this two pump gas station. He was proud of his faithful wife and obedient children. They were a family that respected and loved one another regardless of the outcome. I paid him with the last bit of cash I had and he pointed me in the right direction to get me to my original destination. He also reminded me that just because the road looked better, it may not always be best for me.
As I headed back to the main highway where I poorly exited from, I soon realized the older gentlemen was correct. I was traveling the correct highway with cars on both sides of me to keep me going in the right direction. Yeah, it was frustrating at times, but at least we were all respecting each other’s space and attempting to get to the same destination. Once I chose to exit onto the “easy” and more appealing highway, I didn’t have the cars on each side of me to keep me in my lane and I soon thought everything was about me and my journey.
Over the years I came to truly appreciate this man’s wisdom and the turning my car around to the right destination. Yes, I was late BUT I arrived where I had desired to be at the beginning of my journey. For that I am thankful to a man who made me accountable to my original plans to my destination.
Are you like me in this story? Have you ever made the wrong choice of an exit in life? You thought it was a good idea at the time but after a while realized it was not? You continue to travel the wrong road hoping it’s going the same direction, but that main highway is right there to remind you that you’re not on the right road? If you are a Christian man who has made a bad choice and you are traveling the wrong path hoping for another opportunity to get on the main and right path. As Christian men we have a GPS built into us, it’s called the Holy Spirit. It was telling us to stay on the main highway, but somewhere along the ride, pride kicked in and we got off the road needing to be traveled. First thing to do is stop. You can’t change anything until you stop it and look at the entire picture. 1 John tells us to confess our sin. That’s right-stop and confess the sin. If need be, ask someone for help and the correct direction back to the main highway. The Lord forgives your sin, if you will confess and turn away from it. You must turn your life around and get back on the road the Lord had you on in the first place. It is never too long of a road for a Christian to stop and ask for the Lord’s forgiveness. He is faithful and just to forgive. And if you are not a Christian, you can also stop and ask for directions to the right highway. The Lord Jesus Christ is the only way to Heaven. Get back to the main highway, the one that leads to Christ!
In Christ Name
Bobby
