Time to Make a U turn

Last year about this time I was taking a class called Teaching Children Effectively II through Child Evangelism Fellowship. The focus of the class was learning how to disciple a child who has put their faith in Christ. One of the segments we were required to teach to children was on confession and repentance. We were provided with materials to help us, but I had an experience around that time that became my lesson. Please keep in mind that it was designed and written for children, but it applies to us all.

One night I was driving home from my church in State college. My church is a place I go a lot, so I should certainly know the way home from there. That night it was dark and snowy, and the roads were white. There was snow falling on my windshield, and there had been some road construction so that things didn't quite look the same. Even though I should have known which way to go I let these things confuse me. I made the wrong choice and ended up on the wrong road. I was headed toward Altoona in completely the opposite direction of my house.

We all make wrong choices. The Bible calls the wrong things we do sin. Things like telling lies, hitting people, saying bad words, and sneaking cookies or candy when your parents aren't looking are all sin. Sinning is like getting on the wrong road, it takes you farther away from where you want to be. If you are God's child you should want to get closer to him, but sin takes you in the opposite direction.

I was headed in the opposite direction from my house, so what was I going to do? What would have happened if I had ignored it and just kept going? I would have ended up in Altoona or beyond. It certainly wouldn't have gotten me home. What did I need to do?

The first thing that I had to do was admit that I had made a wrong choice. The Bible says in
1 John 1:9 "if we confess our sins..." (that means if we tell God that we did something wrong) "He will forgive us..." (that means he won't be angry with us anymore). God already knows you sinned, but he wants you to admit that you were wrong.

It didn't take me long to realize I was on the wrong road and admit it, but I was still headed toward Altoona, not home. What else did I need to do? I needed to turn around and go the right direction. If we confess our sin but still keep doing it we are still getting farther away from God. When we turn around and chose to obey God instead of sinning we repent. Can you say that word with me? Repent. When we repent we are going in the right direction getting closer to God. I had to repent.

As soon as I could I turned around and started heading for home. When you are on a highway driving a car like I was you have to wait for an exit ramp before you can turn around. When you are living in a way that displeases God you can turn around right away. First confess (tell God you did something wrong), then repent (start making the choice to obey him).

It was so good to finally get home that night where I felt safe. It is even better to be close to God who made you and loves you and sent his Son to die for you.

If you have never asked Jesus to save you from your sin you haven't gotten on the right road yet. It is impossible to get close to God unless His Son has saved you. If you know you need to ask Jesus to save you from your sin you can talk to Him right now.