Did you ever take a turn in a direction that wasn’t intended, but apparently necessary? Picture a road washed out by a flood, but you didn’t realize it until you were on your way and saw the sign. What do you do? Panic? No need. Just reconsider where you’re headed and then adjust your course. But by all means, heed the Detour sign!
Today I saw a detour sign as I started to write. It’s significant in that I saw Tim heading in one direction and then make what looks like an odd turn. It happened so quickly I almost missed it, but today I have a feeling it’s important. To all of us.
(Hey, if you don’t have a copy of The Bridge from OneDayBow, you can read it for FREE at onedaybow.com! And if you need to flash back to the previous posts to catch up, I’ll be here when you get back!)
Last time we looked at the first part of Chapter 19 – page 83 – where we found Tim’s friends and family were not embracing his testimony about the King and His Son. Tim knew the truth and he wasn’t going to give up, but…
But at times Tim felt tempted to give up and go back
To just collecting bobbles and filling up his pack.
What??? How can that be? Tim is convicted of the Truth and committed to the Kingdom! Why would he ever consider going back to what he knew was a lie? What could possibly tempt him to compromise on his convictions? Before further speculation, maybe we should read the rest of the stanza:
It wasn’t that he believed there was any real prize,
But he got tired of being mocked and accused of lies.
Now we get to the heart of the heart. Let’s get real, it’s hard to be the odd man out – or woman, boy, or girl. Who doesn’t want to fit in? No one wants to be treated like a liar or a lunatic. Getting made fun of isn’t an easy thing to handle, even if you know the Truth. But once Tim knew the real Truth, how could he consider turning back?
Tim is going to work through this, but honestly this isn’t just about Tim. It’s about me and it’s about you, Christian friend. If you’ve ever felt the sting of rejection when you’ve tried to share your faith in Christ, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Especially when it is with people you really care about, not just for here and now but for eternity. If you’ve been excluded from something because of your relationship to the Lord, or have had to exclude yourself in order to honor Him, it can be emotionally painful. Perhaps false accusations have been made, or your character maligned for taking a stand for God. I’ve never lived in a place that my Christian witness could cost me my life, but I’m sure that I wouldn’t be as quick to want to share if I thought it could mean my demise. Authentic Christianity will cost us.
I’m getting real with my pain, but I also must be clear about my gain. I have new life in Jesus Christ! God has forgiven all my sins and given me new and better desires. I have assurance of His Presence with me now, and my place in His Kingdom forever. His Holy Spirit encourages, convicts, and reminds me about the words and ways of Jesus. I AM BLESSED beyond human limits! And by the grace of God, every day I am getting more real – more conformed to Jesus, my Savior and my Lord. (Romans 8:28-30! Can I get a big Hooray?!) How could I ever go back? May it never be so!
Tim will get past his pain and fears, but he won’t do so by trying to re-fit himself to HereAndNow. That is a dead-end road that he’s seen firsthand! All that Tim knows to be true will encourage him, and the King Himself will lead him in the right way. That doesn’t mean there won’t be a battle – on the outside and the inside – but that’s why he was given the equipment. And through it all, he will learn what’s really real!