Lost on my Way to Allegany. Help!
A friend of mine (And I consider anyone I meet, no matter how briefly, a
friend!) shared the following experience with me. He and his family had reserved
a campsite in the beautiful Allegany State Park, located in Salamanca, New York.
As the designated day arrived, the family packed up the camping gear and headed
for New York State. It was with excitement that they crossed the Canadian/U.S.
border in Buffalo and proceeded down the I-90E, direction New York City. They
were sure of their route. After all, all roads lead to Rome!
As they drove along the Interstate, they tried to keep the kids occupied by
pointing out interesting scenery and playing a variety of car games, but by the
time 4 hours had passed, everyone was beginning to question their route. After
all, they had been told that they would only need two and a half hours to reach
their destination!
A bit farther down the road was a gas station. What better place to stop and ask
for directions? But the initial results weren't very helpful: "Allegany State
Park! Never heard of it!"
My friend's heart sank.
"Wait," continued the gas attendant. "Let me see that map. Hmmm… Allegany State
Park, Allegany State Park, Allegany State Park…No it isn't around here. Allegany
State Park, no it isn't in the next county. Let me look on the other side of the
map."
After several minutes of anxious waiting, the family finally heard the man
exclaim: "Here it is!"
But their relief was short lived: "Boy! You are way off track! You will have to
head back to Buffalo. You took the I-90 east instead of west!"
My friend's mouth gaped open in frustrated astonishment, but the gas attendant
was still pointing at the map and giving directions: "Take the I-90W, W…E…S…T.
to the 85E. This will take you to the town of Salamanca. From there you should
see signs pointing you in the right direction."
His cheeks hot with embarrassment, my friend thanked the employee and proceeded
to drive back to Buffalo. Six hours later, with all the car games used up and
the scenery no longer interesting, they finally arrived in Salamanca. But where
was the State Park???
Understandably lacking in patience, they stopped at a doughnut shop to see if
they could find someone to help them. Sure enough, there just happened to be
four state troopers stopped at the very same shop.
My friend hesitated before asking the infamous question. After all, what if he
were told they still had another 10 hours to drive??? How would they ever keep
the kids occupied and happy for another 10 hours on the road? But he swallowed
and asked anyway. After all, how else would he ever know??? "Do you know how to
get to Allegany State Park?" he asked.
The police man looked my friend straight in the eyes and said: "You won't be
able to reach that park from here!"
My friend's heart dropped with his jaw: "Won't be able to . . ." he stammered.
But he was interrupted by the laughter of the other three state troopers. "I'm
sorry sir," said the first officer. "Just look out this window!"
My friend turned in the direction the officer was pointing, and just outside the
donut shop was a sign that read: "Allegany State Park". After driving for more
than eleven hours, they had finally reached their destination!
Doesn't this sound familiar? In the walk that we call life, with our destination
being Heaven, we often lose our way. Sin is rampant in our world and if we
aren't careful it can swallow us up whole. We think we are heading in the right
direction, only to find out that instead of Jesus being in our driver's seat, we
have taken over ourselves! Our immediate destination? Misery and
self-condemnation!
Paul tells us: "There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of
the glory of God." (Rom 3:22-23 NIV) According to this verse, sin means that we
are coming short of our true end. Sin causes us to literally "miss the mark".
What a frustrating waste of time!
We have all fallen short. No one can claim to be sin free! "If we claim we have
not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our
lives." (1 John 1:10 NIV)
In fact notice what Peter says about this: "Be self-controlled and alert. Your
enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers
throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings." (1 Peter 5:8-9
NIV)
We are not the only ones facing this devastating disease. All of our Christian
brothers and sisters are faced by it as well. However there is a way to stay on
the right road. It comes by knowing that we have been set free from sin's
dominion through the blood of Jesus! "To him who loves us and has freed us from
our sins by his blood…" (Rev 1:5 NIV); and "So if the Son sets you free, you
will be free indeed." (John 8:36 NIV)
If we sin, it's because we are paying attention to the devil's attempts to lure
us away from our destination. What can be done to avoid continually falling
short of the mark? Peter gives us the answer:
1. Be self-controlled (see 1 Peter 5:8)
Know our own weaknesses. Don't boast about our own strengths. They may lead to
our own destruction!
2. Be on alert (see 1 Peter 5:8)
From what? "Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for
someone to devour." (see 1 Peter 5:8)
The devil isn't our friend, nor is this world. His plan is our destruction! He
knows our weaknesses and will use this knowledge to his own advantage! (Isn't it
interesting that we are never tempted by weaknesses we don't have?)
3. Resist him (see 1 Peter 5:8)
Instead of giving in to the devil's temptations, resist him! Know that these
attractions are meant for our own destruction. If we stand firm, God will give
us a way out! "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And
God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But
when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up
under it." (1 Cor 10:13 NIV)
4. Stand firm in the faith (see 1 Peter 5:8)
Acknowledge that we will not stand on our own. Instead let us stand on the Rock
of our salvation. Depend on Jesus. If we have to boast, let us boast on the
victory given to us through Jesus! "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." (1
Cor 1:31 NIV)
God has given us a Counselor who lives in us and who guides us if we listen to
His voice. "I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be
with you forever- 17 the Spirit of truth." (John 14:16-17 NIV)
5. Know that we are not the only ones facing these kinds of temptations: "Know
that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of
sufferings." (see 1 Peter 5:8)
Draw strength from the knowledge that the devil is after all of God's creation,
especially the redeemed ones! He will do anything "to deceive the elect-if that
were possible." (Mark 13:22 NIV)
6. If we fall, let us not give up. Instead let us rely on Jesus and ask for His
guidance and His forgiveness, for: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and
just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1
John 1:9 NIV)
Only by standing on Jesus and His word will we reach our goal, not on our own
strength, but on His alone! "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and
believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has
crossed over from death to life." (John 5:24 NIV)
The choice is ours. We can be wanderers, lost in the labyrinth of this life, or
we can head home with Jesus in the driver's seat!
By the way, how can I get to Allegany State Park?
Rob Chaffart