A Detour Is Not a Dead End

A Detour Is Not a Dead End

Winning the Battle & Staying Focused

When we come into this “TRUTH” we find ourselves in a constant battle to stay on point and not be distracted by the cares of this world. Sometimes we find ourselves off the path we were originally on, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get back to that righteous path we started on. Because again, “A Detour Is Not a Dead End”. Let’s get the definition of (Detour):

So, we see a detour is just a temporary route or way when we find ourselves off the main path, it might take us a little longer to get where we’re going, but if we just keep going, eventually we’ll get there and reach our destination. 

Mat 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Being in the “TRUTH” is about enduring through trials & tribulations, a lot of us start off strong but we don’t endure to the end. Circumstances in life may send us in many different directions, but as long as we continue and strive to work our way back to the main path, we’ll most likely end up where we need to be. However, there are times when we get off track; so, how do we get ourselves back on the main path when we find ourselves off course? 

Jhn 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

If we want salvation, we have to go through Christ; not because He’s above The Most High (TMH) but because TMH ordained him as the mediator or the door of salvation. (Verse 1)

Jhn 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

Now we know, there’s only one way into the kingdom and that’s through Christ. Sometimes what happens is, we find ourselves trying to be spiritual and still balance our everyday lives, we get caught up in our everyday routines of said daily lives and before we know it, we’ve drifted off course; it happens. That’s when we have to go back to the “word”. 

Pro 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

So, even if we’re completely lost if we’re sincerely trying to live right, acknowledge TMH in all our ways, He will direct our path. Remember all of us are trying to get to the kingdom, and none of us have arrived yet. TMH is merciful, we just have to keep moving towards the goal. 

Phil 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

Paul, with all the great things that he did, he realized he had not attained heaven yet. He knew he was a work in progress and that he was not yet perfect. He was chasing perfection, so that he can get exactly what Christ has for him.

Phil 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

Paul said I haven’t received the crown of righteousness yet; “I do know this one thing for sure,” see “I can’t dwell on who I used to be and the mistakes I made in the past, even if it was yesterday, today is a new day and the scriptures say that TMH tender mercies are new every morning” (Lam 3:22-23) “So, I’m not going to allow myself to be bound when Christ has made me free.” “Yes, I messed up in the past, but now I’m focused on the future.”

Phil 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Paul says, “Even though I might have fallen off the main path, I’m not going to quit. I’m pressing toward getting back on the main path. Let me acknowledge my sins and get back into the scriptures and ask TMH to guide me through the spirit.” We have to remember that the world is set up in a way to distract us from what really matters. We have to change our focus from fleshly & worldly things over to spiritual things.

Pro 4:25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.

This is talking about being focused. Looking straight ahead in one direction with one goal.

Pro 4:26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.

Think about the direction that we’re going in before we go that way; in other words, don’t make decisions based on our emotions, make intelligent decisions based on the direction of the scriptures. Our ways are established when we follow the directions that TMH gave us. Where do we find those directions?

Psa 119:105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

The word is the light that illuminates our path so that we can see which way to go. If we adhere to the word, we will always stay on the right path; Any time we find ourselves off the main path, it will always be from the result of us turning away from the scriptures. 

Psa 119:133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.

Again, the word is a lamp unto our feet. Sin takes us away from the scriptures which causes us to drift off course. David asked TMH to not let sin have dominion over him, and not only did TMH help David, but He took away the power of sin from all of Israel. 

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

So, sin no longer has dominion over us, if we confess our sins through Christ, TMH will forgive us of our sins. That’s the mercy of TMH towards His people Israel, when we find ourselves off course because of sin, there’s no reason to stay off course. Repent, take that detour, and head back to the main path. Most of the times we stay away from TMH, is not because He’s unable to forgive us, because He is willing to forgive us. But sometimes we stay away from TMH because of the guilt that WE feel. We allow ourselves to be condemned to the point that we don’t feel worthy of TMH. Here’s the thing, none of us are worthy of TMH; but that’s the beauty of this whole thing, despite our shortcomings He still sent His son to die in our place so that we could be made worthy through faith.

1 John 3:20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

If we lose hope to the point that we condemn ourselves in our own heart/mind, TMH is greater than our heart/mind His thoughts are above our thoughts, He’s able to forgive us even when we can’t forgive ourselves. No one understands us the way TMH understands us, even when we can’t see anything good about ourselves, TMH can see beyond what we mere mortals can see. There’s never a reason to turn away from TMH, because He already told us not to turn away for any reason.

Jer 3:12 Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever.

TMH is telling us to come back to Him, if we repent TMH will forgive us, there is no reason to turn from TMH. Sometimes we just have to step back, put things into perspective, and be completely honest with TMH. That’s what David had to do.

Psa 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

David said, “Cleanse me, give me a new heart/mind.” This is what we should be saying to TMH. “I need you to renew me, make me over again, because I don’t feel the way that I should be feeling. The peace that I suppose to have is gone. I’m walking around smiling but I’m really miserable. The truth is, I’m lost and I’m tired of pretending that everything is okay when I know that it’s not.” That’s the reality of a lot of us, a lot of us feel that way but we’re faking and pretending because of the people around us, but when we’re by ourselves we’re miserable. We’re not supposed to feel like that all the time. Sometimes we have to go through things yes, but we’re not supposed to feel down like that all the time if we’re in this “TRUTH”. Sometimes we have to stop worrying about what other people think and just be honest with ourselves and TMH. If we drift off course we need to ask TMH to renew a right spirit within us. David asked why can’t we? 

Psa 51:11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

David did not want to be on his own, he wanted TMH to lead him by His spirit. 

Psa 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

This is extremely important because the word says, “that the joy of the lord is your strength. ~ (Neh 8:10)” Remember how you felt when you first came into this “TRUTH”? Ask yourself, do you still feel that way? Again, we understand that the trials and tribulations that come with being in the “TRUTH” are harsh, but David asked TMH to give him back the joy that he once had. Even through trials and tribulations, we’re not supposed to be miserable all the time. The word “free” there means ‘willing’ in other words, TMH is willing to sustain us through the power of His spirit. So, again sometimes we need TMH to mold us into a new vessel of honor.

Jer 18:1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,

Jer 18:2 Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.

Jer 18:3 Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.

So, Jeremiah went to the potter’s house and the potter was in the process of making a vessel, 

Jer 18:4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

So, when the potter looked at the vessel he made, he noticed that it wasn’t right, either it wasn’t shaped right or maybe it had a crack in it, something wasn’t right about it. Now, notice that the potter didn’t throw the clay away, he just reshaped it into a vessel of honor. He took the same disfigured cracked piece of clay, and he molded into a vessel that was worthy to be called by his name. 

Jer 18:5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

Jer 18:6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

So, whatever our situation is, TMH can fix it, He can take us from the bottom and place us on top. He can take us from the back and put us up front. Whatever disastrous situation we find ourselves in, TMH can turn it around. No matter how deep in the hole we think we are, He can still reach us and pull us out. Whatever we think can’t be done, that’s exactly what TMH can do. We need to hear this because, we’re in the “TRUTH” we know the scriptures, we know the precepts, we know all that as Israelites, but sometimes we get too smart and we forget about the spirit and the power of TMH. TMH is still TMH, He can do any and all things, whatever He chooses to do. We have to have that type of faith because we’re going to need it for the times that’s ahead. 

Jer 32:26 Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying,

Jer 32:27 Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?

And the answer is; no.  TMH can do whatever He desires to do.

Mar 10:27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

There are plenty of things that we as people can’t do; again, that’s the kind of faith that we need, total faith and trust in TMH. Let’s look at a parable that Christ taught:

Luk 15:11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:

Luk 15:12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

Luk 15:13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

The first thing we have to understand is, that the father of this man was rich, this particular son wanted his father to give him his portion or inheritance so that he could leave and go out and be on his own. Once he left, he ended up wasting everything his father gave him through a careless lifestyle.

Luk 15:14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

A famine took place in the land and this son didn’t have any money to support himself, now let’s see what he did to survive.

Luk 15:15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

So, this man got a job working for another man feeding swine… watch this

Luk 15:16 And he would fain (happily) have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

So, this man would have been content eating what the swine ate, he went from being the son of a rich man to feeding swine and starving. Now watch this…

Luk 15:17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

When he remembered who he was, so this man said, “wait a minute, why am I sitting here struggling when my father is rich?”

Luk 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

Notice, that this man realized that instead of struggling and starving he could just go back to his father and repent of his sins. See, this parable is an example to all of us. A lot of times we find ourselves off course because we took a detour and instead of just repenting and coming back to TMH we think we can survive on our own away from TMH. However, the problem only gets worse. The same way this man had to remember who he was, and return to his father and repent; we have to do the same exact thing. He said, “Father I have sinned against heaven and against you.”

Luk 15:19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

So, this son after he messed up was willing to be demoted down to the position of a hired servant. He learned humility through his experience of being away from his father. 

Luk 15:20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

See, his father was joyful when he saw his son coming back, he wasn’t upset he was happy that his son was coming back…

Luk 15:21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

Luk 15:22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

He said give my son the best of everything, bring out the royal apparel and dress him up; 

Luk 15:23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

Luk 15:24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

−     See that? The father was so happy to see his son come back he didn’t hold a grudge against him & the fact that he left. He was just happy that his son came back. Again, this is an example for all of us, because TMH is long suffering towards us. He wants us to return to him regardless of what we did, so no matter how far you find yourself off the path turn back to TMH through Christ and He will restore you once again. Remember, a “Detour is Not a Dead End”. Just keep moving and eventually you will find yourself back on the right path.