Driving the Wrong Way on a One-Way Street

…. It’s more common that you might think….and if you have been driving for any length of time, there is a pretty good chance that you have either done it yourself as a driver, or almost did it, or have been with someone who did it. 

One-Way driving is usually indicated by a sign with an arrow pointing the appropriate direction of travel for that street. Occasionally, by driver error or a sign that is not visible, a driver will travel the wrong direction on a one way street. 

Driving the wrong way on freeways has also been a huge problem since the interstate highway system was started in the late 1950s. 

This is an illegal traffic violation that can result in a fine of around $100-$120. These fines could be increasingly inflated should there be other offenses involved such as intoxication. 

In fact the main culprit appears to be impaired driving, with drugs and/or alcohol involved in over sixty percent of wrong-way crashes and over seventy five percent of the fatal wrong-way crashes.

Despite all of the additional signs and modern striping methods, education, and increased fines, the problem persists and lives are still being lost.  

When a driver is in the predicament of driving the wrong way on a one-way street, it will require more than just changing lanes, because a new lane in the wrong direction will still get you to the wrong place. 

Instead, the driver will need to change directions by stopping, and turning around, and going another direction. 

To do so, one must first realize that it is happening, and change the way that he or she thinks about the situation, and then figure out how to get his/her vehicle going in the right direction.

I would submit to you that when this is taking place, the first response is that everyone else is going the wrong way; especially if the driver is impaired. It is then that the driver needs to change the way he is thinking so that he can go the other way. 

But deciding to turn the car around and actually driving in the other direction are still two different things.  

It is the same with making changes in our lives…We start off going in what we believe to be the right way only to discover that we are actually going the wrong direction.  

If you have been living for any length of time, there is a pretty good chance that you have either done it yourself, or almost did it, or have been with someone who did it.

And just like driving, going the wrong direction can have devastating consequences on those who we impact as well as to our own lives. And, like driving, we cannot simply change lanes; we need to stop, and turn around, and go another direction.

To do so, one must first realize that it is happening, and change the way that we think about the situation, and then figure out how to get going in the right direction; which is somewhat like trying to turn around a car that is going the wrong direction.

The Biblical word for changing how we think is “repent”; or “metanoeō” in the Greek (pronounced: met-an-o-eh'-o). 

The way we normally use the word, repentance refers to anytime that we feel really sorry for something that we’ve done—so sorry that we promise never do it again. 

But repent biblically means: means “to change your mind” or “to think differently” or afterwards, that is, reconsider (morally to feel compunction). 

In other words you are going one direction and to turn around and go another direction you must FIRST to think differently and then you will be able to go another direction. If we are truly repentant (by changing how we see things) then we will be willing to do what is necessary to reverse our direction.  

But part of the problem is that unlike a highway or one-way street, on the road of life, the path isn’t as easily marked and the signs are not as easily seen to let us know that we are going the wrong way on a one-way street. 

Many people who are going the wrong direction will realize that something is wrong and simply “change lanes” by trying different things like working harder at it, or going to a gym or a church, or reading self-help books, or going on the newest diet.  

But none of these will make any difference as long as they’re still going the wrong way. Going in the wrong direction will still get you to the wrong place and all we have are “New Year’s Resolutions”. 

And, deciding to turn and go a different direction and actually going in the other direction are still two different things. 

To go a different direction, there must be a conviction that you are going the wrong way; otherwise you won’t turn around and go the other way. Instead, you will eventually miss familiar markings and scenery and stray off the right path.  

And it should be noted that you really can’t get a conviction on your own. Instead, God has given us His Holy Spirit to be the road signs to let us know when we are going the wrong way. He will lead and guide us into all truth and He will convict the world of sin. 

God has a sovereign plan and purpose for your life. But you won’t find it by natural reasoning. Instead, it will be by the supernatural direction of the Holy Spirit. 

The Holy Spirit calls out to each of us; “Stop. Look. Listen! Wrong way! Detour! Change your direction! You’re on the wrong road!” When you sincerely repent, God helps you go another direction and gets you back heading where He wants you to be.

The Holy Spirit has been given to help us change our minds and convict us of where we are going the wrong direction. 1 John 1:8-10 says;

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” (NKJV)

Do you desire to repent now, but you are not sure how to?  

Let me ask you a question; has there been a moment in your life when you repented of sin and then by faith received the Lord Jesus Christ? If not, you can today. Your life can be changed. Your sins can be forgiven. You can live a new life. You can have the assurance that if you died at this moment, you would go to heaven. Will you receive Him as your Savior? 

Need some help: Call 1-888-NEED HIM; someone is waiting and wanting to help you and get back going the right direction.