Miracle on Crooked Street

My wife and I flew to Maui, Hawaii with our daughter and son-in-law a few years back.  He took receipt of a rental car and asked us if we were ready to explore the hills and take a trip to Hana.  I heard the Road to Hana was very winding and steep, but I was ready for an adventure and excitedly said, “Let’s go!”

They call it a road, but it is nothing more than a narrow, winding street that the person driving must slow down dramatically when taking the hairpin curves.  It’s like Lombard Street, in San Francisco, which is known for being the most winding street in the city.

Less than halfway to Hana, everyone wanted to turn around and go back to the lowlands, because we were all carsick from the non-user-friendly road. 

This route reminds me of the street I’ve named, Crooked Street.  I traveled this relentless journey, for years, on my rebellious trek in the opposite direction from God and away from His restrictions, while ignoring the caution signs along the way.

At this time in my life, I remember having a negative insight of God.  I didn’t want Him or anyone telling me what I could and could not do.  I was headstrong and felt He would limit me on my radical taste for having fun. 

I thought that being a Christian meant giving up everything exciting in life and becoming like a monk, hitting gongs and ringing bells every day.  It wasn’t until I became a born-again Believer that I experienced total freedom as a child of the most, high God.

I was set free from the bondage of sin that prevented me from enjoying the fulfilled life that I longed for.  For the first time in years, since I was a kid, freedom bells were ringing inside my forgiven soul.  My perception of God was totally wrong.  In fact, I was searching for Him all the while but was too rebellious and naïve to realize it.

Crooked Street led me away from real peace—Jesus Christ.  He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life; above Him there is no other.  The riff and calamity I encountered on this street is what the Bible calls, “the way that leads to destruction.”  (Matthew 7:13)

Though it seemed I was headed in a direction that would bring new adventures and a lot of highlighted moments, it was a hard avenue to travel, with unforgiving snares and pitfalls, and negative encounters at every turn. 

My saving grace and miracle was the day I finally gave into the wooing of the Holy Spirit.  He was waiting patiently for me to finally accept the reality that I needed a Savior.  I acknowledged the fact that I was discouraged and fed up with the ongoing curves of heartache and nauseated lifestyle that sin brought.  I was sin sick!

I made a 180-degree U-turn and headed back to my childhood teaching where I received enlightenment that in Jesus was unlimited love and total forgiveness for a sinner like me. I also learned that He gives abundant peace where confusion usually fills the heart of non-Believers.

I thank God for Christian parents that lived the life before me and strived to train me in the way I should go, having Christian values.  These teachings were in my early, informative years as a child.

(Proverbs 22:6), “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

Considering my less than happy lifestyle when I was estranged from these teachings in my teen age years and early twenties, it was indeed a miracle that later in life I took a detour and rerouted my travels from Crooked Street to Glory Avenue, as I call it.

The less than desirable people I hung with on Crooked Street were like leeches, sucking the life out of me as I followed their lead into deeper depths of riotous living.  I was like a leaf in the breeze when it came to double mindedness.

(Isaiah 64:6), “But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousness’s are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”

(James 1:6-8), “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.” (v 7) “For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;” (v 8) “he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” 

I was trying to find myself and where I belonged in an environment of many distractions.  I was indeed lost on Crooked Street.  My quest for solace was beyond my reach, while traveling this unforgiving street.

It took a Godly awakening of supernatural proportion that changed the direction I was headed and transformed everything in positive ways.  I met Jesus, because the Holy Spirit didn’t give up on me.  Jesus made all the difference.

The joyful adventures that I considered fun on Crooked Street, were only elusions of real joy, because the things I involved myself with were seasonal at best, nothing lasting.  It was like being on the road to Hana.  It was a sickening trip, and I was miserable.

It wasn’t until I made the decision to turn my life around and travel the straight and narrow avenue toward God, that I found true joy and happiness.  His road is leading me toward heaven with all its splendor, glory, and wonderful sights.

I am thankful for the hope I now have that heaven will be my home one day and the adventure of all ventures will last for eternity.  I am positive it is a spectacular place, because it was prepared for me and all Believers by Jesus Himself—God incarnate.

(John 14:2,3), “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.” (v 3) “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

This was certainly a miraculous encounter with the Lord when I left Crooked Street and chose Glory Avenue as the perfect road to follow.

Consider this question:  Are you looking for another road to take, off the beaten path that you may be on right now?  Glory Avenue is the road that leads to peace and harmony, away from the unrest and turmoil you may be experiencing. 

I want to share Someone with you Who will change your whole prospective on life and make all the difference in the world.  I give you Jesus.  He is the Prince of Peace and joy unspeakable that you are probably searching for.

Look no further.  Take the detour of a lifetime, away from feelings of inadequacy, to the One Who will give you a reason for living.  You too will find the miracle on Crooked Street you’ve been looking for.

Call out His name, JESUS, and ask Him to forgive you of your sins.  You will receive forgiveness and a brand-new road to travel, the way to a brighter, happier, and more fulfilling life.  A healthy life is just a prayer away when Jesus Christ becomes Savior and Lord of your life.

(Matthew 11:28), “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Written by,

Papa Boyd