Some of you are not only grown-up boys and girls, but have been with us long enough to be grandfathers and grand mothers. We are glad to have you in our big family of readers, and so we have chosen a story especially for you.
This is the story of two young men who set out to drive straight east across Canada from Vancouver to Toronto. Their vacation in Vancouver was over, and they were heading home. At the end of the first day they had reached the Rocky Mountains and were enjoying every minute of it; the weather was perfect and the scenery was wonderful. Now the mountains were fading into darkness as they faced a rosy sunset.
Greg turned on the headlights, but somehow, he was not enjoying the sunset. “There’s something wrong here,” he finally said. “We shouldn’t be facing the sunset. Toronto is east of Vancouver, and the sun should be setting behind us.”
“It’s okay,” his brother assured him. “We’re just going around the mountain... it will straighten itself out.”
And so they watched the glowing sky a little longer, telling themselves that things would be all right, but at the same time troubled by an uneasy feeling that things were all wrong.
Perhaps you understand that uneasy feeling. We who are older know very well that our days on earth are drawing to a close. We have many reminders that the days of our youth and middle age are over and that the evening of life has come. After sunset comes the long, dark night. If we are facing the sunset, is there any way that the long, dark night can be changed?
For those two brothers driving, things did not straighten out. They were becoming more and more sure that they were headed the wrong way, and so they did the wisest thing possible. They stopped at a hotel and talked to someone who had a good map and who knew the road well. They discovered that they had made a wrong turn, and it was right-about-face to correct their error.
And for you also, there is no use waiting for things to straighten themselves out. There is a book, the Bible, which tells you where you made the wrong turn. You will find the answer in Psalms 58:33The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies. (Psalm 58:3). “They go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.” And Isaiah 53:66All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6) reminds us, “All we like sheep have gone astray.” This problem will not straighten itself out. In fact, it becomes worse — “The wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23). You are facing death and a dark eternity.
God commands a right-about-face for you. “God... now commandeth all men every where to repent.” Acts 17:3030And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: (Acts 17:30). If you will follow God’s command —“Repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:1515And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. (Mark 1:15)), you will find yourself facing the light of the sunrise, for you will have changed directions and will be following God’s way.
We urge you to get out your Bible and read for yourself the story of the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, and remember that this is the price that He paid in order that God might give you the gift of everlasting life. Read the story until you can say, “The One who died there on the cross took my place and died for me.”
Now we are facing the sunrise! Death and judgment are behind us. We are on our way to that heavenly home where we will see our Saviour’s face, and where there is no night, no death, no sorrow and no crying. The best that the world can offer is like darkness compared with the glorious day that is before us. The darkness will soon be past for us. The Lord Jesus is coming, probably before we die. His coming is one day nearer today than it was yesterday.
Greg and his brother went back, made the correct turn, and reached Toronto on time. Let us also make the right choice in obedience to the Word of God. “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23).
ML-10/22/1989