Westside Church of Christ

Crossroad moments. We all experience them in varying degrees. Sometimes, they are insignificant. Choosing what clothes to wear is not particularly important. Selecting the restaurant where we want to dine is a major decision at our house but ranks pretty low in the grand scheme of things. We won’t remember next week where we ate today. Career choices matter a lot in this life. Then there are those truly momentous times that affect us forever.

Eve faced one of those: the word of God verses the temptation of the evil one. We do, too. We glance over at our Bible. It’s been a while since we’ve read it, but life is so busy. Who has time? I will read the word of God tomorrow. Yes, tomorrow. Then another week passes, and we wander down that same mental path with the identical commitment. Tomorrow is still waiting for us. So is the Book. A wrong turn at the crossroads.

Our souls begin to shrivel. God seems distant and very little like a Father. More like a stranger. I intend to pray more but not today. Tomorrow! Yes, I will begin again then. My schedule is too crowded right now. Twenty-four hours pass and nothing. Intentions fade. Distance grows. We begin to feel discomfort at the thought of being alone with a holy God. We’ll do that later. Crossroads. Choices. Procrastination.

An internal process is going on. Hearts harden. Thoughts grow increasingly worldly. We turn away. Sunday is a day to sleep late rather than gather with the saints. At first, it bothers us. An occasional absence is no big deal, but then it becomes easier. The bed sure is comfortable. I work hard all week, and this is my only opportunity to sleep late. I’m going to go…next week. This morning, I will snooze. One more wrong turn.

They don’t feel like significant moments. “Just-this-once” decisions creep into our lives, and the drift begins. I’ll skip Bible study. Wednesdays don’t really matter. There is no scripture that says we have to go in the middle of the week. Ditto Sunday evening. We rationalize and justify without seeing the bigger picture. Each crossroads moment brings us either closer to the Lord or further away. Our light dims and the darkness enters. We underestimate the danger. Eternity is at the end of the road. Where are our decisions taking us?

God wants us to be with Him. Jesus wants us there, too, so much so that He gave His life to make it possible. He knows about crossroad moments. He faced one in the Garden of Gethsemane. He prayed fervently for some other option, but there was none. His ultimate desire was for the will of His Father to be done even if it meant His life. Will we follow Him at our crossroads?

Call to praise: Acts 13:26-31

His word on it: 2 Corinthians 5:10

Sermon: “All Roads Lead to Jesus”