It was a dark and stormy night. Well, not really stormy, just dark. And I was travelling to where I’d never been. In the dark, I don’t much care for that. But I had my trusty MapQuest directions by my side, half-memorized, and an invitation to a ladies get-together with new friends. I was ready for the adventure.

As I approached the town, I was dismayed to realize the street signs were not well-lit. Sometimes, they were non-existent. I breathed a prayer asking God to help me see the right sign. I also took comfort in knowing that since the street connected two fairly major streets, it was probably a major street, too. “Shouldn’t be too hard to find,” I thought.

It turned out to be a narrow dirt lane, rutted with water damage! That I saw it was an answer to my prayer.

The rest of the directions were fairly easy to follow, though. Every street was where I expected it to be and the signs were all easy to see. I confidently turned onto the street that would finally lead to my friend’s street—the end of the journey. Party time!

But it was a dead-end.

I wondered if I was supposed to drive through someone’s yard to get to the street on the other side. Ruled that out—I was driving my husband’s car.

I double checked the directions. Yes, I had read them right. No, I hadn’t gotten my left’s and right’s mixed-up. But maybe MapQuest meant that final right to be a left! I turned around to try the other way.

Another dead-end.

Both sides of the street were a dead-end! Who thought that up?! And where was my friend’s street?

I tried to call her, but got her answering machine. We had a nice conversation, but I didn't get any directions out of it. Just then a car pulled in front of mine and parked. I checked my car doors—yes, they were locked. Relief! “Now just put the car in gear and get ready to drive away . . .” a familiar head came out of the window followed by a waving arm. A friend on her way to the party! I was saved!

Nope. She’d used MapQuest, too.

“Do you have her number?” she asked.

“Yes, but she’s not answering her phone,” I replied. “Do you have numbers for anyone else who might be there?”

“Not with me,” she said. Jokingly, she added, “Maybe someone else will use MapQuest, end up here with us, and have a number we need!”

Just then another friend pulled up and parked behind me. The first friend and I both laughed out loud.

This newcomer to our dilemma did have the number of someone at the party, called for directions, and led us safely there. We were happy to arrive at a warm, welcoming place. Several friends were already there—they hadn’t used MapQuest. They’d called our host.

There are a lot of sources in our world today that claim to know the way to Heaven. They provide detailed directions. Some may be right (if they use God’s Word as their source). Others will lead to a dark dead-end—a forever, no-turning-back, truly dark dead-end.

Why should we take chances when we can call:

--the One Who created Heaven,

--the One Who lives there now,

--the One Who’s creating a place just for you and for me and for everyone who wants to be there,

--the only One with authority to open the door?

He’s joyfully waiting to welcome you in from the cold!
If you want to go to the party, call on Jesus. He’s your Host.