All Roads

post 129

There seems to be a growing religious theology here in America that, All roads lead to God.

Never mind that this is not a new idea, and never mind that it makes no logical sense in anything we know of in the physical or scientific world. It is a religious idea that many have accepted and apparently that alone makes it reasonable.

But I am going to show you that most American Christians also believe in this brainless theory! Yet before I do, I am going to show you how utterly stupid an idea this really is.

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Maps:

How many of you in the lower 48 *1 would consider going on a 700 mile road trip without a road map? I venture to guess that even those whom have taken the same trip previously would still not attempt it without a map.

Apparently all roads do not actually lead to the same destination.

I live in Alaska.

I frequently take 700 mile road-trips to various destinations, and have on several occasions made road-trips longer than 2000 miles one way, and never even consider taking a map. (I am not a great man with special memory or devices). Do all roads in Alaska lead to the same destination? No.

So why is it ok for me, but not for you?

It is because in 700 miles from my house there are virtually only three intersections to make a destination choice; The first is to choose between Alaska and Canada at Haines Junction, the second is to choose between Anchorage and Fairbanks out in the middle of nowhere at Tok, and depending on which of those forks you take, the third is to again choose between Anchorage and Fairbanks, either at Delta Junction or the Gulkana Junction. Now of course there are several side roads I could take but to do so would have to be an intentional departure from the highway. So because of the limited option roads, driving in Alaska is very nearly a no-brainer even though all roads do not lead to the same place.

But even with its limited options, is it fool proof to drive it without a map?

Laughingly it is not.

I have coffee at the local 33 Mile Roadhouse Café every morning.

We find it mind-boggling how many people driving the Alcan *2 Highway from down South, miss the turn at Haines Junction and while intending to end up in Anchorage find themselves walking in the door at the Haines café asking; “How much further to Anchorage?”

From Haines there are no roads to Anchorage but to backtrack 150 miles back the way they came. This happens so often, there are now seventeen road signs at Haines Junction encouraging drivers to make sure they like where they are actually going once they leave town!

So why do so many people miss the turn?

Because although the highway goes very straight through Haines Junction, the destination most people want requires a 90 degree turn in the middle of town. The long singular road lulled them to sleep and they forgot to pay attention.

Once they depart Haines Junction on the wrong road, their perception of reality no longer matches true reality and the farther they go the greater the difference becomes.

Like the Alcan traveler, the Jews started off their spiritual road-trip on a very good road. But they missed the 90 degree turn at the Messiah and have no idea how or where they ended up without a temple or sacrifice.

So what do they do? They metaphorically run around downtown Haines nailing up Talmud signs that read, “Welcome to Anchorage”. They simply refuse to admit they got off the right road regardless what the arrived destination looks like; the Jews now value their oral interpretation of the law over the law that simply does not reflect their present reality.

The law says; without blood sacrifice there is no remission of sins *3, but because they no longer have the ability to sacrifice they turn to meaningless interpretation suggesting daily prayer can now somehow do the job.

But do all roads lead to the same place at least spiritually?

Ask Aaron’s two sons; Nadab and Abihu who took their censers, “and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come night me, and before all the people I will be glorified” Leviticus 10:1-3.

Apparently not any old smell will work; the specifics DO matter… alot!

* * *

Today the apparent trend of American Christians in all confidence is to look down on the Jews as poor ignorant wretches too slow to figure it out. But I contend the American Christian is in a similar boat with just as many holes.

Christians too, started off their spiritual journey on the right road of Liberty but somewhere along the way they missed a turn and where they are now, has very little likeness of the destination promised;

The divorce rate for Christians is approaching the same as non-Christians.

Far too many of their daughters are unwed mothers and their sons are either on drugs, in jail, or sodomites.

They have a reputation to cheat in business and lie and steal to make ends meet.

They are often angry and frustrated, but there is always a good excuse.

Money is always short, and it seems as if life is just cursed *4,

But they show up faithfully to church on Sunday to sing one-line praise songs, just don’t expect them to stick around if the pastor runs long because they can’t miss the Sunday game on TV.

Now who is running around downtown Haines nailing up “Welcome to Anchorage” signs?

* * *

Am I being all judgmental? No. Only a few years ago I was right there with the rest. I know the mind frame and the impossible struggle. The reason why we end up in such a bad way is the same reason why travelers end up in Haines; Unbelief.

It’s not the error that got us to Haines; it’s the unbelief that we made an error, that allowed us to continue in error to end up in the wrong place!

Who can drive three hours in the wrong direction and not begin to wonder about it? If you think you are driving West but the morning sun is in your eye, do you conclude that the solar system is just different up here in Alaska?

Some drivers do have a funny feeling that something is just not right, but instead of getting out the map they just review their past conduct in their minds and can find no flaw in their route.

And it’s hard to fault them for the error because all the circumstances stacked up against them to almost intentionally deceive them, but it’s only the way of reality; the road was straight and had no options for a long stretch, then right in the uncommon cacophony of a rare town in the middle of nowhere, the highway they were solidly on, took a ninety degree turn though the road continued forward unchanged.

The highway out the other end of town looks just like the one we came in on, we made no turns, and all still seems right with the world since we were careful not to deviate from the road at all… but we are suddenly WRONG.

But seventeen warning signs? How could you miss them all?!

I should not have to overlay the Christ on this for you, should I? Think about it.

Now here is where it gets clear:

100% of every driver who walks into the Haines Roadhouse from Canada expecting to reach Anchorage, has made two errors: Missing the turn and ignoring the signs and nagging feeling of error.

We don’t have to ask them to sit down and explain the details of how it happened. The fact that they are here is proof enough.

“You missed the turn a few hours back”

We are not self-righteous by declaring it so.

Yet it is a strange thing to watch the mental gymnastics as they try to comprehend all the truth of what they just heard; How did it happen? the wasted time, the shame of the mistake, the reaction of the kids in the car, the missed appointments, the extra cost in gas and lodging, etc. etc.

The resulting question;

“Are you sure?”

Some people actually refuse to believe it and slam the door determined to continue driving the next 33 miles… where the road ends at the ocean.

“Yep, I’m sure.”

* * *

Dear Christian, you, like the Jew, have strong faith. You are sure your faith is the right faith. Nothing can derail that faith.

That’s good.

But you must recognize that your present reality does not match what your faith has promised. You have accepted the theology that the various roads you “accidentally” take have no effect on your destination result.

The sooner you wake up to this fact and seek correction, the sooner you can be heading in the right direction.

I am suggesting that in your life you are now actually so far off the right road that you are choosing between an old abandon 4-wheeler path and a game trail in choices like; the movies you watch, or the club you select, or the people you date, or the friends you choose, or the time you waste, or the things you DON’T do, or the compromises you make, etc. etc. How can you not know all those wrong choices are taking you farther from your intended destination?

You have made two errors:

The first in ignorance can easily be forgiven and corrected with very little consequences after repentance (3341; by implication reversal). The second is just plane willful stubbornness in foolish confidence that you cannot be wrong, ignoring sign after sign that says otherwise. That one will cost you heavily if not soon corrected.

If you are trying to get to Grandmas house for Thanksgiving there is one truth that comes clear; All roads but one do lead to the same place; That is “the wrong place”, wherever it turns out to be.

It is only a stoned teenager in a stolen car who drives around with no particular destination in mind, and only someone like him believes such a destinationless driven religion makes as much sense as; “All roads lead to God”.

You need to wake up now.

Take your faith seriously and ask; “Is my God real?”

“Is the Bible really the roadmap to life?”

“If it is, where am I on this roadmap?”

“Where is my bible anyway?”

* * * * * * *

*1 Lower 48:

That’s common Alaska slang for “the other states in the rest of the USA”; all are south of Alaska.

*2 Alcan Highway:

Alcan; standing for Alaska-Canada, is a trans national highway connecting the lower 48 to Alaska running roughly 1400 miles.

*3 Blood Sacrifice Required:

“For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the alter to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul” Leviticus 17:11

(see also Leviticus 16:27-30, Numbers 35:33).

But at the ninety degree turn in the confusion of the Roman conquest, the Messiah became that sacrifice;

“For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” Matthew 26:26.

With lots of signs to point to that junction:

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” Acts 2:38.

“Repent”, and “in the name of Jesus”, are the acceptance of his blood sacrifice, shown in the act of baptism; Acts 10:43, Romans 3:25.

The flashing highway signs are the Passover Lamb of Exodus 12 with every detail, and the brass serpent of Numbers 21:8-9 that has no explanation without the events of Jesus death.

*4 When life seems cursed… it probably is!

“Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face” Deuteronomy 7:9-10.

“I don’t hate God, I just don’t believe his roadmap is right.” Hmmmm.

“But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth…” Deuteronomy 8:18.

How long are you going to continue trying to prove that wrong?

“And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish. As the nations which the LORD destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the LORD your God” Deuteronomy 8:19-20.

“Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants” Leviticus 18:24-25.

“Behold, I (Moses) have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people”

Deuteronomy 4:5-6.

And on and on goes the warnings and the promises.

America now standing in her troubles, is just like the traveler walking into the Roadhouse.

She can argue all it wants about the how and why, but just being here in this condition is all the proof needed to boldly declare; “You missed the right road.”

Your personal life is no different.

Without all the excuses and justifications, have a genuine look at your life and then declare by the observation of your condition in comparison to what your faith has promised: Which side of God are you really on?

Acceptance of responsibility is the first step of recovery... and no matter how many miles you drove down the wrong way, the very second you turn around; YOU’RE SUDDENLY ON THE RIGHT ROAD!

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