My sister and I had to ride our bikes about two miles each day to catch the bus to get to work. In the British Isles where we lived there always seemed to be a stiff wind blowing. And no matter which direction we pedaled, we always seemed to be riding into the wind.
But coming home after work one evening the wind was just right! There was a strong wind at our backs; we simply sat and allowed the wind to blow us home. We laughed as we glided along, going really fast without having to pedal even once.
When we came to our turnoff, my sister thought that this was too much fun to stop. She suggested that we go another mile down to another road that would also take us home, so we sailed along like a skiff in the breeze.
As we came to the second turnoff, she called out merrily, “Let’s keep going!” This was so much fun! And even though I had second thoughts about going on, I followed her.
On and on we went, enjoying our present fun without a single thought for AFTERWARDS! We never stopped until we had sailed all the way to the next town . . . about five miles beyond our usual turnoff.
Now we turned to go back, and soon what we had done became very clear to us. That wonderful wind at our backs was now a very strong enemy at our faces and fought us every inch of the way. Straining every muscle for what seemed inch by inch, we struggled back home, pedaling into the wind. How we scolded ourselves for being so foolish.
We finally made it, but we were exhausted. However, we learned an important lesson - the fact that enjoying our careless fun with no thought for AFTERWARDS carried a penalty. And today many young people think of only one thing - have a good time right now and don’t worry about AFTERWARDS. The Bible has a warning about this: “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [the AFTERWARDS] are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:1212There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 14:12)). God is warning us that a careless life of sin carries the penalty of a lost eternity. This is so serious and so important that He repeats it a second time, word for word, in Proverbs 16:2525There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 16:25). When God gives us a double warning, He’s telling us we had better do something about it!
When I had second thoughts about going on past our turnoff, they were useless because I didn’t do anything about it. You might have a few serious thoughts as to whether your careless fun is right or wrong, but unless you get off NOW, you will be swept along to a lost eternity, and there will be no turning back. You can blame your sister, your friends or yourself, but your AFTERWARDS with its penalty will be set.
Before it is too late . . . stop, and think of two foolish girls sailing into town on their bikes, and then ask yourself if perhaps you might be doing the same thing.
ML-08/17/1997