When my daughter was learning to drive, one of the maneuvers she had to master was the U-turn—a 180-degree rotation to reverse her direction. In some places, U-turns are permitted anywhere along a road as long as it’s safe to do so. In Singapore, U-turns are permitted only at specifically designated junctions, clearly marked by a sign. Regardless of your country’s rules of the road, it’s important for every driver to be able to execute a U-turn.
The people of God during Jeremiah’s time were going the wrong way. They had rejected God. He said, “But My people have stubborn and rebellious hearts. They have turned away and abandoned Me. They do not say from the heart, ‘Let us live in awe of the Lord our God’” (Jeremiah 5:23-24).
God patiently and lovingly pleaded with His people to repent, to do a U-turn before it was too late: “When people fall down, don’t they get up again? When they discover they’re on the wrong road, don’t they turn back?” (8:4).
Sadly, the people rejected God’s pleas. Instead, they compounded their sin with another greater sin: “They paid no attention. . . . They refused to be corrected. They are determined, . . . they have refused to repent” (5:3). No one said “I’m sorry” for doing wrong. No one confessed, “What a terrible thing I have done” (8:6). Refusing to turn around, they blatantly ignored the U-turn signs, stayed on their self-destructive path of sin (vv.5-6), and cruised into their designated and deserved outcome (5:15-18). The Babylonians came, devastated their city, destroyed their temple, and deported the people to a faraway land (52:12-27).
Are you cruising down life’s highway in the wrong direction, racing down the path of sin on the way to destruction? It’s time to make a U-turn.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Matthew 14:13-36
More:
What sins did the people of Judah commit? (Jeremiah 5:1-5, 23-28, 7:26-31). How have you been guilty of these sins?
Next:
What will it take to make a U-turn in your life? How might you crash and burn if you don’t change direction?
jimgroberts on July 17, 2011 at 4:14 pm
As true believers the work of the Holy Spirit is to convict us of our sins and potential sins and to redirect us. If we continue to resist the Holy Spirit and allow the sin to become a habit we will eventually no loger hear the spirit and become apostate. As Hebrews tells us don’t begin this road as you will not know when you have gone too far with no return.
Sow a thought – reap a deed,
Sow a deed – reap a habit.
sow a habit – reap a character
sow a character – reap a destiny
Jesus said “If your eye offends you tear it out”
winn collier on July 17, 2011 at 7:06 pm
I’m glad for this good news. I can always change.
daisymarygoldr on July 18, 2011 at 1:21 am
Good post and comments! Since my childhood, I had always pictured two separate roads branching out from a fork and leading people into different directions—the broad way to hell and the narrow way leading us to heaven… because it was depicted like that in the broad and narrow way poster: http://www.flickr.com/photos/55163494@N00/247578762/
This post is giving me the impression that it is just one road leading us into opposite directions. I don’t know. Maybe I’m overanalyzing… Either way, I’m thankful for the U-turn signs along life’s highway.
And jimgroberts, thanks for the “apostasy” pointer! It is important to be always alert, sober, and vigilant while driving. If my mind is preoccupied, then it is difficult to realize I’m going in the wrong direction away from God. When I miss the sign and do not turn around, I end up getting lost in the maze of life. And quite often pride blinds me to admit I’m wrong and lost.
However, once I humbly recognize my sin, no matter how far I have been proceeding in the wrong direction, it is never too late to make a complete 180 degree turn. For a directionally challenged person like me, the U-turn gives me the chance to slow down, stop and turn back to God.
heatherh on July 18, 2011 at 6:22 pm
It is always good to be reminded to assess my actions and motives. Thanks!