Turn Back

“And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God.  It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:16-17).
It was getting late by the time our family arrived in Bridgeport for the campout last Thursday evening.  In the darkness, I managed to drive past the entry road to the campground.  As I proceeded on down the main road, I became more and more convinced that I had missed my turn.  Every foot travelled from that point on was just taking us farther from our preferred destination.  The only way we were going to get to the camp was to turn around.  Was it easy turning the Suburban and trailer around on a narrow highway?  Nope.  But it was the only way to get to where we wanted to be.
It’s easy to get headed in the wrong direction, isn’t it?  A missed sign here.  A wrong turn there.  And before you know it, you are headed away from God.  An important part of John’s job as the forerunner of the Messiah was changing the trajectory of people’s lives.  Turning people back to the Lord.  Turning father’s hearts back to their children.  Turning disobedient attitudes back to righteous attitudes.
The gospel call is a message about turning back.  “Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19).  It is such a vital ministry!  “My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:19-20).  Do you know anyone who needs to turn back?

God loves you!

Mike