No Easy Way Home

This last weekend I had the privilege of speaking at a statewide BCM conference at a university in the Little Rock, Arkansas area. I spoke to roughly a thousand college students about Jesus and other hot-button issues they have to wrestle with in this culture. That was a lot of fun–really fun.  

The part that wasn’t so much fun was the drive home Saturday evening. 

In case you aren’t aware, there’s no really easy way to get to New Orleans from Little Rock. There are no direct flights. There is no straight shot down the interstate, not unless you are willing to go several hours out of the way. 

I used my internet mapping tool and plotted out a number of different ways to make the trip. I chose one that would take the least amount of time on the road, but also one that put me on two-way highways for most of the drive. 

In addition to the interstate legs of my journey, I was on nine different highways traveling through the Mississippi and Arkansas delta. (When President Trump started talking about the need for road and infrastructure expansion last night in his address to the joint session of congress, I wanted to write him a letter to suggest making that first road to New Orleans from Little Rock!) Needless to say, it was a long drive that demanded constant attention. No cruise control. No easy to follow signs. No easy way home. 

The Christian life isn’t easy either. We travel a difficult journey along a narrow road (Matt. 7:14). 

Dangers lie on either side. One danger is a rejection of God in self-worship and self-destructive living. Another danger, equally great, is the temptation of self-reliance and a smug self-righteous attitude. Both of these ways are broad, meaning they are easy to travel, and both lead to destruction. 

The promise we have from God is that he will never leave us or forsake us. He cares about us. He values us. 

He loved us so much that he gave us his one and only Son, “who is your life” (Col. 3:4). 

We are also not without a guide. We have God’s living and active Word in Scripture. 

So the road may be long. It may be tough. There are moments when we are tempted to turn around and go elsewhere. But God is faithful. And he is good. 

Your interim pastor loves you,

Rhyne