“I would rather be with God on the wrong road, than on the right road without Him.”

There is a lot of talk about forks in the road that present themselves across the course of one’s lifetime. Will you turn left, or right? Which is better for you? The decision you make as to which way to go at any of those has consequences that touch your future in ways that you likely cannot foresee at the time. It is important at those moments that you consider your choice carefully, counsel with others who know you and know God and His Word and ways, and seek God’s wisdom for all that you and they cannot know. See James 1:5 TEV.

Some people come to such a place and become stuck. They don’t know which way to go, which way to turn, so they go nowhere. Here is God’s counsel to Joshua when he needed to move forward. “Do not turn from (God’s Word) to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth . . so that you may be careful to do everything in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful . . for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:7-9 NIV.

Life is not ultimately determined by which way you go, as much as it is that you are careful to know and do what God says along the journey. Then the Lord will be with you wherever you go. I would rather be on the wrong road with God, than on the right road without Him.

Yet more frequently and more likely, the challenge you will face is whether to go on or turn back – whether to move forward in faith and obedience or to turn around and retreat to the more safe and familiar. “Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world more.” 2 Timothy 4:10. See 1 John 2:15-17. The world is behind you, since your new life in Christ. Keep it there. Keep moving forward as God wills.

Here is what Jesus says about following Him, “No one after putting his hand to the plow and looking back is fit for the Kingdom of God.” Luke 9:57-62 NAS. It’s simple logic. You won’t make much progress if you always looking over your shoulder fondly of where you’ve been. The Bible speaks of those who left behind everything to follow God, “If their attention had been filled with thoughts of where they had been, they would have found a way to go back there. But they were looking for a better place . .” Hebrews 11:15-16 (my paraphrase).

I have found that your direction is determined by your attention, usually and eventually. Never stop looking for “a better place.” That’s the only way you will ever get there. Going back to any former place can never be the same again. You have to keep moving forward, “following hard after God.” Psalm 63:8.

My prayer for you is that you never settle for less than God’s best, and never look back.