Imagine you’re driving down a road that is shrouded in darkness. You don’t necessarily notice how dark it is because the road is all you’ve known. There is so much traffic that you’ve come to accept that this road is THE road.
As your car chugs along, you think you see where the path is leading.
You think you see, but here’s the thing:
You’ve been immersed in darkness your whole life, which means you don’t know differently. You’re under the impression that you see clearly in the pitch black, because you don’t know what it’s like to have sun illuminate your path.
The dark road claims to have a feel-good destination. Though self-satisfying decisions along this route may boast of happiness, the feeling is short-lived. The real outcomes are heart-wrenching, like brokenness, depression, shame, bitterness, anger—each a jagged pothole that leaves your tires worn and weary. If you keep driving this way, it leads to a cliff. It leads to death.
BUT guess what! There is another road.
The other road leads to life. It’s clearly lit, and you see things on the journey in a fresh, new way. It’s illuminated by the Son, that is, the Son of God. As we drive this road, God’s word provides wisdom so we can make good decisions along the way. The Bible tells us that God’s word is a “lamp to my feet / And a light to my path,” (Psalm 119:105b).
Where is the turnoff to leave the dark road? How do we access this wonderful, life-giving route?
Through Jesus; He is the Son of God.
In John 14:6b, Jesus tells us, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.”
You see, we’ve all done or thought evil, selfish things. This is called sin, and the penalty for sin is death. Jesus, however, never sinned. He lived a perfect life and took the penalty for our sin upon Himself, dying in our place, so that we can be forgiven. Through Him, we can have a relationship with God and spend eternity with Him in Heaven.
Jesus declares in John 3:16:
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.”
That “everyone” means you! There is an exit ramp approaching. You can take it, leaving the dark road and choosing the path that leads to life. The toll has already been paid by Jesus, the Savior Who loves you immensely! It’s up to you to believe and receive the gift He’s paid for you.
If you’re ready to make a change, leave the dark road, and follow Jesus, please join me in this prayer:
Dear Jesus,
I believe you are the Son of God. Please come into my heart and be my Lord and Savior. Thank you for coming to earth, dying on the cross, and rising again so I can be forgiven of my sins and have a relationship with God.
I confess that I have sinned. Dear God, please forgive me of my sins and help me start anew. I choose not to live my own way, but to follow You.
In Jesus’ name I pray,
Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, Heaven is rejoicing with you! You are forgiven of your past. Today begins your journey on the life-giving path!
Caitlin M. Smith 