There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death. Proverbs 14:12

            We had just spent a week at a teen church camp in southwest Missouri and had loaded the car for a several hour road trip back home to southern Iowa.  With four teenagers and our adult driver on board we set out.  George, our driver, was from our home church and every summer he gave a week of vacation to work at the camp.  He also provided the transportation for the long trip there.  He was not known for his driving or navigational skills, but George was willing and that was the key qualification.

            About an hour into the trip I noticed a state highway sign with "Kansas" on it.  I didn't need a GPS to figure out that we were headed west when we should be going north.  I pointed out the problem and we pulled into a gas station to determine where we were and reassess our travel plan.  We were significantly off course and, although we were making good time, we were actually getting farther from where we wanted to go. So, we retraced our path until we found the proper highway that would take us north.

            We made one other adjustment when we stopped for our course-correction break.  We knew George had a tendency to get sleepy on a long drive.  So we talked him out of the driver's seat and got the college-age student in our group to take the wheel.  George took a nap and we confidently rolled on toward our destination.

            Many people find themselves in a similar situation in life.  They have a destination they want to reach, but are actually traveling a path that leads elsewhere.  To compound the problem they are oblivious to the fact that they are far off course.  They continue down a dead end road.

            In his book The Principle of the Path, Andy Stanley establishes a simple and extremely biblical credo for life-travelers:  Direction, not intention, determines destination.  Yes, we all want to find happiness and fulfillment and meaning in life.  That's the universally desired destination.  But many people are headed in the wrong direction, oblivious to the reality that they are getting farther and farther from where they want to go.

            You see, no matter how clear we are regarding the destination we want to reach and no matter how strong our intention to get there, we won't arrive if we take a path leading in a different direction.

            The Bible's book of Proverbs offers a wealth of travel guidance for life's journey.  God's deep longing for each person is that they reach a destination of ultimate blessing and fulfillment.  I will teach you wisdom's ways and lead you in straight paths.they will lead you to a fulfilled life. (Proverbs 4:11-13)

            No one decides to get married intending to have it end in a nasty divorce.  No one plans to spend themselves into bankruptcy.  No one intends to neglect their children and drive them into rebellion.  But far too many people follow a path that leads to these and other painful dead ends even though they had no intention of going there when they set out.

            The problem with the wrong road is that it seems so right at the time.  Oh, there are always road signs pointing out our faulty direction.  But they are easy to ignore, because we like the present scenery.  The wise look ahead to see what is coming, but fools deceive themselves. (Proverbs 14:8)  A long look down the road ahead would reveal the fact of our directional error.  But the easiest person to deceive is ourselves and we are far too adept at it.

            However, if we are willing to come to grips with our failed directional choices, the solution is as simple as that which got our church camp group home to Iowa.  Change directions.  Identify the road that really leads to the desired destination and take it.  Be assured, God is ready to assist anyone who will stop and ask for directions.

            Remember the driver exchange we made as we prepared to get back on the right road.  Do the same.  Put God behind the wheel of your life and let him do the driving.  His navigational sense will assure the best route.  His driving skill will bring you to the destination.

            Now, relax.  Your driver knows the way.