GOD ALLOWS U - TURNS

While traveling in another city, I noticed a sign in front of a church building with this message: “Traveling down the Wrong Road? – God Allows U-Turns.” I suppose that many of us have found ourselves traveling in the wrong direction and needed to turn around. However, when we needed to make the turn, a sign that read, “No U-Turns” warned us that we couldn’t. On our interstate highways, it is not possible to make a U-Turn without violating the law.

In contrast, if a person is traveling down the wrong road in life, God does allow U-Turns; in fact, He not only allows a U-Turn, He requires that we make a U-Turn if we want to travel the way that leads to eternal life (Acts 17:30). That way is in Jesus Christ (John 14:6). Though God demands a U-Turn, man has the power of choice to decide whether he will or will not avail himself of this privilege.

Repentance is that pivotal position in life that enables a person to change directions.  God desires that all men come to repentance (II Peter 3:9).  His goodness should lead men to repentance (Romans 2:4).  To repent simply means to change one’s mind; that is, to resolve to stop living in sin and determining to give one’s life to the Lord, to submit oneself to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.  Godly sorrow produces repentance unto salvation (II Corinthians 7:10).  And, true repentance brings forth a reformation in the life of the penitent person (Matthew 3:8).

The prodigal son in Luke 15 is an example of a person who was traveling down the wrong road in life.  Eventually, he came to himself, realized his plight and made a complete U-Turn.  He came back home, confessing his wrongs and was received warmly by a forgiving father.  This story depicts the mercy and forgiveness of our Heavenly Father.  There is no sin but that God will forgive and forget if we will repent and obey His Son.