If you don’t live in So Cal you don’t understand our freeways. Whereas
interstate highways are found in all 50 states, a misnomer in Hawaii, they are
truly limited access highways outside of metro areas. Most of America and most
people’s driving is on secondary roads, and in many rural areas the two laner is
still the choice of travel, even if it is the only one available. But many old
two lane highways are now four laners, giving local drivers a new taste of four
lane freedom, accelerating speeds and less time to get there, bypassing many old
surface streets. But we out here are used to the freeways, they are our surface
streets, even if the are 8-10 lanes wide in places. Just like some turn right
on Main Street, we turn right at exit 29, with many of the old highways and
surface streets handling far less traffic, and the accompanying jams. Based on
population and distance between destinations, our freeways jam traffic just like
the old two laners of the past used to, just in bigger numbers. But just some
observations from recent cross country trips on freeways, to prove a point.
LA is known for traffic jams, but have you ever driven on Atlanta
freeways? Worse. Indianapolis, bring a book to read. Any road in Jersey,
another reason to not go there. OK City, watch the signs and heaven help if you
are in the wrong lane, you may end up in Arkansas instead of Tulsa. Albuquerque
jams up early each morning, never did 30 years ago. San Francisco has no
freeways in the city, unless you count Van Ness as one with all its lights and
jams. Want to really get lost, try Pittsburgh, you can see where you want to
go, but how do you get there? From Nashville to New Haven, you can go 10 above
the limit, until you hit an urban area, and any time made will be lost. At
least LA has the multi-lanes needed, a recent transplant from Burbank to
Springfield, Missouri thought she had gotten off the freeway somewhere, it only
had two lanes! Like the streets by her house. So no matter what you ride or
drive, no matter where you do it, traffic is out to get you. And if you are
stuck in it you are part of the problem! There has to be a better way...
Simple, go where the others aren’t going. On our trips we stay off
freeways and away from cities. We have traveled thousands of miles without
encountering a traffic jam, three cars at a light being a jam in some towns.
But whereas in West Virginia there were many small towns inaccessible by road,
ever been to West Virginia, it has mountains everywhere. It was by train or
don’t get there, in or out. But thanks to influence peddling and creative
finance and Robert C. Byrd, the eternal senator from there, they now have the
Robert C. Byrd Freeway System. Miles and miles of four laners or more, with no
traffic on them. Beautiful perfect roadways, with no traffic. Unfortunately it
will only be a matter of time until they too become jammed, but for now your tax
dollars at work in WV pave the way for unobstructed driving and great views. It
is only a matter of time, as when we retrace old roads ridden years ago, we now
find them bypassed, expanded to four lanes or more, with the traffic moving as
it should, until some bonehead from Cali gets locked into the fast lane on his
cell at 48 in a 70 zone. Anywhere else this is against the law and driving
etiquette, here it is the norm. So please those in So Cal out here, stay home,
keep the traffic flowing by not being in it. For like surface streets, there is
a better way, not found on your GPS. At least not for now, anyway....
But just as the freeways are a nation unto themselves with laws, taxes
known as tolls in some places, God has called us unto a nation itself, heaven.
What love he has placed upon us that we should be called the children of God.
But not all are children of God, nor of the land of heaven. Scripture tells us
that while we were yet sinners, Jesus died for us. He paved the way, built the
road, and made the ultimate free way to heaven, in fact the only way to heaven.
But just like you need a license to drive legally, we need a license, the
paperwork of our name written in the book of life to enter heaven. In our sin,
we were helpless to do it alone, there was and is nothing we can do to save
ourselves. Maybe put like this, when we were too proud, condescending towards
God, hating him and showing indifference to his word, while an enemy of the
cross, Jesus died for us. While still in the traffic jam of sin, God provided a
freeway to heaven. But a change had to take place so we can be called children
of God, not just accept the name by religious rhetoric, or traditional lies. It
takes the truth to be set free, it took the cross for our salvation, and Jesus
on it. It took the resurrection to prove it, and our choice to accept it.
There are conditions to being called a child of God, but no conditions to God’s
love for us. We only love him because he loved us first. A love so great he
wants his enemies to be saved and become his children! No wonder we should
rejoice as we behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we
should be called sons of God. And that we can grow in grace in him.
Yet many are stuck in the traffic jam of lies, stuck on a road while a
street just adjacent is empty, both going the same way. “It’s the same
everywhere, we are all his children,” perpetuating a lie, at least they admit
there is a God. But stuck in traffic, can only see what is in front of them, if
they can see that far at all. As cities become more jammed, and as doubters jam
the churches and religious groups, the truth will still be the truth. An exit
convenient wherever you are, one marked truth, and paved in love. An exit
passed by many times but somehow afraid to get off and try. Not marked by
religion but by freedom, but it is our choice. The average speed on LA freeways
is 17 mph, slower than a school zone. God who is light operates at the speed of
it. What manner is keeping you in a jam,when God’s love can set you free?
With something in the news to remind us. The southern border is l needed
to keep those not citizens out is an example of heaven. Heaven has walls, and a
gate, a strict immigration policy, the only way to get in. Hell has open
borders and anyone can get in. Jesus is the way, and he stands at the gate to
heaven, wishing you entrance. You will find no way to enter heaven illegally,
only through Jesus. The manner of love he bestows to us, straight and narrow,
the quickest way between two points and no detours. In life we will face many
treacherous roads, why not choose one endorsed by God himself, and become
family. That old line given when stopped for speeding, “I know the chief,”
fails here. Knowing the real chief here will get you home to heaven. New roads
are being built every day, God built his years ago, and it is still open and
toll free today.
Still stuck in traffic.....you may have missed the exit, don’t miss
Jesus....at least you can’t blame the snow!
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com