The Wrong Way

As seen in the HEARTbeat and the Village Voice

“The Wrong Way”

Have you ever been driving down a one-way street and see oncoming traffic?  You’re going the right way, or at least you think you are.  You question yourself so you begin to look for indicators.  You see all the traffic signs facing your way and then you see it, a “One Way” sign to let you know you are correct.  As you approach the vehicles coming your way, you see a person with a frightened look on their face, not knowing exactly what to do.  It is as if they are frozen by fear.

On a particular trip, another couple were traveling with my wife and I.  We were in separate vehicles.  We were traveling in downtown Memphis, Tennessee.  He knew of a restaurant in the downtown area that was fantastic.  I was following him as he was much more familiar with the city than me.  I was looking intently at the businesses near and up the road trying to spot the sign for the restaurant. Sure enough, with me just following my buddy, I followed him down a one-way street – the wrong way!  The first person he met about a half block into our error was a police cruiser.  When the cruiser made its way back to me, I just pointed at my friend’s car and said, “I was just following him!”  He grinned and allowed us to turn around.

Everyone has an answer to today’s problems.  Multiple people just know the way to heaven, nirvana, paradise, and are willing to tell you that way.  “Just follow me and I’ll show you the right way,” they say.  Eventually you have the feeling like you’re going down the one-way street the wrong way.  Jesus told His disciples on that faithful evening in the upper room when He was observing the Passover meal for the last time with them.  He had predicted His death and told them He must go away.  Thomas said they didn’t know the way, so how could they follow.  Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”  Regardless of the multiple ways people on this earth think they know the way, there is only one way to Heaven.  In other words, Jesus IS the one-way sign, and it is a big one so all can see – or at least those who choose to see.

I’m reminded of the look on the face of the person driving the wrong way on the one-way street.  The utter surprise said a great deal.  But the loudest their look exclaimed was they knew they made a bad decision.  Imagine if you will the look on peoples’ faces a moment after the resurrection.  Jesus said He was coming back again.  The angels told the apostles as they stood and watch Jesus ascend into the clouds, ““Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

Jesus IS coming again.  Make sure today you are on the one-way street following Christ.  If you are not, you will have the look of surprise on your face realizing you have been traveling the wrong road!