The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:9

Wabush, a town in a remote part of Labrador, Canada, was completely isolated for some time.  But a couple years ago, a road was cut through the wilderness to reach it.  Wabush now has one road leading into it and thus only one road leading out.  If someone would travel the unpaved road six to eight hours to get into Wabush, there is only one way he or she could leave the town, and that is …by turning around.

Each one of us, by birth, arrives in a town called Sin, encumbered with the “Adamic” nature inherited through our ancestor Adam.  As in Wabush, there is only one way out of this wilderness.  One has to take the road built by none other than Jesus himself.  It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been in this wilderness; it doesn’t matter what you have done; everyone must take the same road out of town.  But in order to take this road, one must first turn around.  Without this complete about face; without this change of direction called repentance, there is no way out of town.

Sadly, despite the warning signs of our times (Matthew 24:4-8;22-25), and despite God’s patience, many people choose to linger in the wilderness.  Others hang around the border (Joshua 24:15), an extremely dangerous to do.  Still others ridicule the warning, calling it a myth that only the feebleminded believe. All these responses result in loss of life (Genesis 19:26; Matthew 24:37-39).  God wants every man and woman to get out of town urgently.  There is only one way out (John 14:6), through Jesus Christ, who has already paved the way and purchased our ticket.  He did it on the cross at Calvary (John 3:16) and he did it for everyone.

Where do you find yourself today?  Are you still in the wilderness or are you lingering on the border with one foot in and one foot out?  It’s time to get out of town.  Do you know anyone that needs to get out?  Warn them.  Yes, really, warn them (Jude 1: 22-23). The Bible tells us that the end will come suddenly. “While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape (1 Thessalonians 5:3).”  It happened in Noah's time and the Bible says, it will happen again, when Christ returns like a thief in the night (Revelations 16:15).

Loving Father, thank you for your mercy.  You do not want anyone to perish, but that all come to repentance.  I commit my friends and family, who I now name…to your care.  Reveal yourself to them, that they might encounter Jesus as LORD and Savior.  I commit (re-commit) myself to you fully.  Give me the courage and the opportunity to share the Good News of salvation with those I meet today.  Thank you for showing me the way out of the wilderness of sin.  In Jesus’ name, I pray.  Amen.