Given February 6, 2009 

Everyone knows we are all on a path to somewhere.  Some are walking on the narrow path that leads to Heaven and others are crowding the wide multi-lane that’s taking them to Hell, (Matthew 7:13-14).  God is leading us on the narrow path toward the narrow gate but there are exits on either side.  From somewhere off the exit, temptations are enticing us with tantelizing sights and sounds and sometimes we’ll give in and take the exit, “Only for a little while.”  I can imagine Father God saying, “No son, don’t do it!  Stay here with me and let’s keep going.”  But we go anyway. 

Then there are times when we get just off the ramp, come to our senses, and realize this is no place for us.  In these cases, we can get right back on the opposite ramp leading back to the right course and never really get off on the wrong road.  God is waiting there for us and we must repent for our bad choice and move on. 

But, you know, there are other times when we DON’T readily realize we’ve misstepped and DO get off on the wrong road without God.   We turn left, then right, make a u-turn, get turned around and lost following that evil temptation.  It all doesn’t look so good now and we wander aimlessly lost in the darkness not knowing which way to go to get back on the path of righteousness.  It’s at that time we cry out to our Father, who is actually near by, who will direct us back to the on ramp where He is waiting.  “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.””, Isaiah 30:21. 

The right thing to do is to keep our eyes and ears on the Lord so we won’t be tempted by the exit signs.  We can do it!