Two Paths

Sometimes people just don’t get it. I remember being on a ride-along where officers were called to the home of a single mom whose son was hanging out with drug-selling friends and getting into trouble. The son was ignoring Mom and causing problems between Mom and his other siblings. As Mom and son were separated, one officer asked the young man what he wanted in life. As you might imagine, there was no way this young man was going to reach his desired destination on the road he was currently traveling. The officer tried to show the young man how his current decisions would not get him where he wanted to go, but he just didn’t get it.
   
I have heard what this young man didn’t get described this way: Direction, not intention, determines destination.  Sometimes it’s easier to see this in someone else’s life than in our own, isn’t it? The good news is: we can reach our desired destination if we are willing to get on the right road. But sometimes we need to hear from someone with a better/bigger perspective.
   
It’s funny to me when I hear people accuse God of trying to “force” them to do this or that...to “follow a bunch of rules”. That would be like this young man saying he was being forced to make good decisions and follow somebody else’s rules. The decisions belong to us, but sometimes we don’t get it and don’t see that the road we are on (our direction) will never lead to our desired destination. It may take somebody from the outside to say, “This road doesn’t go there. If that’s where you want to go, you’ve got to change directions.”
   
Psalm 1 talks about two roads in life. One that leads to a solid life rooted in provision for all we need...like a tree planted by a river that will continually get the water it needs to survive. The other road leads to a life that is bounced around with no real purpose...like chaff that is blown about by the wind.
   
My encouragement for you this week is: ask God to show you your direction (the road you are choosing), and then don’t be like the young man at the beginning of this story. God has a great destination for you and He knows how to help you get there!

Your service is appreciated,
Pastor Rob