Have you ever broken a one-way street?
In our day-to-day life, a one-way street has a meaningful and simple purpose. It regulates the flow of traffic in one direction.
However, here are some interesting facts about a one-way street. You can only go one way; if you deviate from that, the consequences could be far-reaching. It could even result in death. We all know if you turn in the other direction on a way one-way street, there’s punishment, and there’s a fine because you are breaking the law.
Israel left Egypt on a one-way street. There was only one way out of Egypt that God wanted them to follow. Follow that route, and if you survive, you will enter the Promised Land.
Unfortunately, Israel desired many times to break the one-way street because their minds were on the fleshpots, the fish, the melons, and all the other enticing stuff, even though in bondage to sin in Egypt.
There’s a pertinent lesson in Israel’s journey as we continue our Christian walk.
Many times, grumbling and complaining, Israel said they wanted to turn back on the one-way street. They were never convinced there was no turning back, that there was only one way forward.
These were the same people who within a few weeks after leaving Egypt was singing praises to God. Ex. 15: 1…the Song of Moses. Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.” 2The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
3The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name. 4Pharaoh’s chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea. 5The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone. 6Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy. 7And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble.
But shortly after the praises…Ex. 15..22, 2 So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. 23 And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore, the name of it was called Marah. 24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, what shall we drink? 25 And he cried unto the Lord; and the Lord shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, 26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.”
God gave them a warning because there were hints already that they wanted to return to Egypt. They wanted to break the one-way street.
Exodus 16:3 …The sons of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the Lord’s hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat, when we ate bread to the full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.
Numbers 11: 4 Meanwhile, the rabble among them had a strong craving for other food, and again the Israelites wept and said, “Who will feed us meat? 5We remember the fish we ate freely in Egypt, along with the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic. 6But now our appetite is gone; there is nothing to see but this manna!”…
They witnessed God’s mighty power throughout their journey from Egypt. When it was time to enter the Promised Land, the children of Israel sent spies into the land of promise. When the spies reported their findings, hear their reaction. “All the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron; and the whole congregation said to them, ‘Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in the wilderness!’… So they said to one another, ‘Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt.’” Num 14:1–4
After all coming so far on the one-way street, Israel still wanted to retrace their steps and go back on the one-way. What is Israel’s experience telling us today? Are you, like Israel and Judah, have a yearning to return to sin – to Egypt – to the old man, to bondage?
You may be persuaded by the pleasures of the past life; you may have a mindset that it’s time to move on from this life of serving God and explore new things in line with how secular society is going today.
The one-way street is usually narrow. This is what Christ says about it. “13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in there at: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:13-14.
If you miss the one-way street sign for some reason, there are still ways you can determine if you’re on or turning into one of these roads. Likewise for the followers of The Way, The Truth, and The Life, if you miss the one-way road you should be on, you should be aware. How?
Traffic is going in only one direction. There is only one way forward. There’s only one way forward into the kingdom of God. Repent, be baptized, and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. There is no other name given under the whole heaven by which one can be saved – Jesus Christ! Be an overcomer to the end, and, “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” Rev. 2:10.
If you want to go back to a sinful life, you have missed the one-way sign that there’s only one way forward. Somehow, you might have been driving too fast (too deep into sinning) or driving and being distracted (get caught up in all the anti-God ways of the secular world). There is no doubt about what Jesus tells us, this one-way street this road is a narrow one. Indeed, the Christian’s journey is a one-way street!
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