This was a typical Monday morning. My husband and I were on our way into town for his Monday morning prayer session with some of the men from church and me for some study time and errands.
We had encountered several speed traps on our way, typical of our local and state police during the summer months. Fortunately, we were not victims of their diligence.
As we approached the end of a street intending to make a right turn, we noticed multiple police cars. One of the policemen was directing traffic away from a car off the road. He pointed in the opposite direction we were planning to turn; and my husband said to me, “But I don’t want to go that way.” He was only joking, but it made me think that we are a lot like that in our Christian life.
When we read our Bibles, listening to our ministers, attend Bible class, we often hear things that make us say, “But I don’t want to go that way.”
Even though the truth of God’s Word is pointing us in the direction of right, we may be inclined to go in the opposite direction.
We are no different than the men and women we read about in the scriptures. The Children of Israel did this time after time. They were given some fairly simple instructions, beginning with King Jeroboam, God said, “And if you will listen to all that I command you, and will walk in my ways, and do what is right in my eyes by keeping my statues and my commandments, as David my servant did, I will be with you and will build you a sure house, as I built for David and I will give Israel to you” (I Kings 11:38 ESV).
“Sadly, the Jews disobeyed God over and over again. They followed after other gods and committed all kinds of sins. They were led by immoral kings and found themselves in captivity. They didn’t go the way God pointed for them to go.
There are two men in the New Testament that come to my mind when I think of those that said, “But I don’t want to go that way.” The first one is found in Acts 24.
Paul, the apostle, had offered his defense before Felix, the procurator of Judea. The scripture says that Felix had exact knowledge of “that Way”, referring to Jesus Christ (Acts 24:22).
Felix dismissed Paul, committed him to the care of a centurion, gave him some freedom, allowed him the company of his friends, and then sent for him again to hear more about his faith in Jesus Christ.
When Paul stood before Felix again, “He reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment” (Acts 24:25). Paul continued to show this procurator “The right way.”
Felix even trembled at what Paul said; but Felix “Didn’t want to go that way.” His answer was, “Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee” (Acts 24:25).
The second of these is found in Acts 26. Paul stood before King Agrippa and related to him the story of his conversion. He explained how he, Paul, was a persecutor of those that believed in Jesus Christ. He told him of the punishments he placed on Christians, but he also told him how he became one of those Christians.
Festus, Felix’s successor, was present and tried to convince this audience that Paul was crazy. Paul stood his ground and told them that the king knew that the things he was saying were true. Then Paul said this to Agrippa: “King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.”
Agrippa responded, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?” (Acts 26:29)
Paul’s answer is chilling. He said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains” (Acts 26:29).
Paul simply said, “Go this way”; but King Agrippa said, “But I don’t want to go that way.”
When that policeman pointed for us to go in a specific direction this morning, we went. We knew it was the way that would keep us out of danger. It was the right thing to do. When God points us in a certain direction, it is always the right thing to do. It is the way that we should go. It is the only way that will keep us out of danger.
Sandra Oliver