faith unfaded

I grew up in a town where most of downtown was one-way streets. My dad’s office was downtown and navigating as a newly minted teen driver was sometimes difficult. There were many detours to get to my final destination- his parking lot.

I can easily navigate my hometown’s downtown area now but it is a little more difficult when traveling through unfamiliar areas. I must apply what I already know, rely on the signs and guidance of my GPS, and do the best I can. Sometimes I get rerouted when I miss my turn.

This is an example of life. With Heaven as our final destination, we must traverse both the familiar and unfamiliar terrains of our journey. Some tools of the road we accumulated early in life, others we picked up on the go. We sometimes miss our turns and get rerouted.

We may even find ourselves headed the wrong way down a one-way road.

This was my thought earlier as Eileen and I headed back to my car after the Rotary Club Pancake Breakfast at the Middle Tennessee Strawberry Festival. We were leaving as the crowds were arriving, putting us going the opposite direction of a hundred other pedestrians.

It was a picture of repentance, of turning from going the way of the world and following Christ instead. It might’ve been easier to walk with the foot traffic but it would’ve put us farther from the car. We would’ve never reached our destination. The popular path was not the right one.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 (ESV)

Your life may be full of winding roads, detours, and seemingly shortcuts, but the path will end in one of two places for it is ultimately a one-way street.

All roads may lead to Rome but they do not all lead to Heaven.