Which way should we go—to the right, or to the left? The channel to the right looked slightly wider, so after looking quickly at the map I said to go to the right. We were traveling by canoe down the Grass River through a marshy area when we came to this dividing point. Here we had to make a decision—we had to choose which way to go.
I wonder if you have made a decision yet about which way you are going? Are you going to heaven or hell? Right now you are at a dividing point. Have you decided to follow the Lord Jesus and go to heaven, or to follow Satan and the pleasures of this world and go to hell?
It soon became clear that I had picked the wrong channel. Even though it was wider, it turned and led away from the direction we wanted to go. Also, the water turned black and stagnant. When our paddles stirred up the water, it had an awful smell from the dead and decaying things in it.
This is just like the way of sin in this world. It looks good at first, but the end is sadness and death. “The wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23).
We turned around and went back to the dividing point. I looked at the map again—this time very carefully. I now saw that the map did show both the wrong way and the right way, but I had been too hasty when I had looked at it before.
A good map is like the Bible, the Word of God. It shows us not only the way we should go, but the ways we should not go. But we must read the map carefully, and we must read the Word of God carefully, too. If we read it and pray to God about it, He will show us the right way.
As we paddled down the correct river channel we immediately saw that the water was clear and flowing. This was good water in which plants could grow and fish could live, instead of the dead and dying things that were in the wrong channel. Although the river had many more turns in it, we soon reached our destination. The river flowed into a large lake where we found a good place to camp for the night.
If you have not already done so, I hope and pray that you will accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour right now. He died to save you from your sins which are leading you down the “river of death” to hell. But by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, you can follow Him on the “river of life” to a home with Him in heaven.
ML-11/22/1981