THE LONG WAY HOME

I think I received this in a forward. Goes to show that not everything you get in forwards are junk!

To read: Ezekiel 18:30-32

"Thanks for inviting me to go to church with you next Sunday, "Uncle Al." Keith and his uncle were on their way to Bonny Lake. They had heard the fishing there was great. "I. . .I don't want to hurt your feelings," continued Keith, "but. . .well. . .I'm not sure I want to get into this religious stuff. besides, Mom and Dad don't think it's a good idea." "Oh?" asked Uncle Al in surprise. "I thought you said that your parents wouldn't mind if you went with me. You sounded quite interested last week. You even said the Gospel was beginning to make sense to you." "Yeah, but since then I've done a lot of thinking, "Keith said slowly. "I don't think I feel like getting 'saved' right now. The crowd I hang around with at school wouldn't understand, and I like being with them. Someday I'll start going to church, but I think I'll just go on the way I am for awhile. know I'm not perfect, but I'm not so bad, either."

Keith's uncle drove on silently for a few minutes."Oh, no!" he exclaimed s they passed a road sign. "I was so intent on our conversation that I missed the turnoff. We should have gotten off this road five milesback." "Guess we'll have to turn around and go back now, huh?" asked Keith. But Uncle Al shook his head. "I don't feel like turning around right now," he said. "I guess we'll just keep going this way. I kinda like this road, and he scenery is nice." Keith looked at his uncle in amazement."But we have to turn around to get to Bonny Lake," he protested, "and the longer we keep going this way, the longer it will take to get back. If we wait too long to turn around, we might not even get there in time to fish." Uncle Al smiled at Keith as he slowed down for the next turn."You're right," he said, "and what you said just now is exactly what I've been trying to tell you about spiritual life--that when you're traveling down the wrong oad, the sooner you turn around, the better. If you wait too long, youmight never get to your goal--heaven."

HOW ABOUT YOU? Do you need to "turn around and go a different direction" to get to heaven? You do if you've never accepted Jesus as Savior. Don't let habits, the opinions of others, or even your own feelings of laziness keep you from taking the right road. Don't wait until it's too late to turn to Jesus.