Traveling in the Left Lane
Most youth, whether in the church or out, have heard the story of Jonah. When God spoke to Jonah and told him to go to Ninevah, Jonah was at home "chillin". He lived in Israel. In order to make the "HookUp" (obey God), the first thing Jonah needed to do was go 500 miles to the right, because that’s where Ninevah was.
Instead of going to the right, Jonah attempted
to go 2000 miles to the left to a totally different destination (see Jonah 1:3).
This move brought much trouble to Jonah and other people as well. In order to
straighten out his life, Jonah had to come back across the distance he went to
the left, and cover the distance to the right.
You may say, "it was stupid of Jonah to disobey God", but how many times have you done the same thing. For example, youth do many things behind their parent’s back that they know are wrong. That’s like going to the left. You miss your opportunity to make the "HookUp". God sees what you do when you are alone. He sees how you act at school, in the lunchroom, in the gym, and behind the building. He is there watching every step you take to the left. He doesn’t want you to experience a shipwreck that can damage your life.
If you are traveling in the left lane, stop immediately and turn to the right. Making the HookUp by obeying God is the single mast important step you can make in growing in maturity and adulthood.
By: Edmund Brown