The Maze

Last week, I heard John and Cleve on WAFJ, talking about local fun things to do. One of the items they mentioned was Kackleberry Farm in Louisville, GA. This time of year, they have a pumpkin patch, hayrides, and lots of other attractions, including a corn maze. When they mentioned the corn maze, I immediately thought of my family's summer vacation about three years ago.

This is the maze in Garden City, SC

We were staying at Pawley's Island, which is just south of Murrell's Inlet near Myrtle Beach. One afternoon, we were driving north to have some fun at Broadway at the Beach. As we  traveled through Garden City, my wife spotted a maze made out of wood fencing, which looked to be about eight feet high.

I had seen it there for years, but it never occurred to me that it would be fun. She and the kids, however, thought it would be great. I gave in, and we planned to stop there on our way back.

I consider myself to be a fairly intelligent man. I was confident that I could navigate that maze with no problem. My wife took our oldest, who was seven at the time, and I set out with our youngest, who was three.

At first, it was fun. I managed to get to the back of the maze, where there was a marker to let you know you had reached the halfway point. However, by that time, my daughter was whiny and tired. I also think she was concerned that we might not get out. Frankly, that thought began to work its way into my mind as well.

Corn Maze in Danvers, MA

Apparently, I am not the only one who doesn't do well with those things. A few days ago, in Danvers, Massachusetts, a man with his wife and two children decided to tackle a corn maze. The maze boasts pathways that are seven miles long, and averages an hour to navigate. For this family, the fun turned into a nightmare. They were hopelessly lost, and were dealing with their youngest child who is three weeks old. Things got worse when they realized the sun was setting and the folks at the farm had closed up and gone home without checking to see if anyone was still in the maze.

Fortunately, they had a cell phone. They called 911. In about 10 minutes the police showed up along with a dog to help sniff them out. They were rescued, only to find out they were only about 25 feet from the exit.

These examples are perfect illustrations of how we get pulled into sin. Most of the time, sin looks like fun at first. We either think it will be pleasurable and think we are smart enough to handle it. We enter in, like innocent lambs, simply looking for excitement or entertainment. At first, it may actually be amusing. However, we wander in deeper and deeper until one day we realize we have no idea how to get out.

It seems the harder we try, the worse it gets. We look around for clues or try new strategies, but we find ourselves back down the same paths again and again.

For those who do not know Christ, the quest for freedom from sin is hopeless. They will always fall into despair. For the believer, we know we can call on God to rescue us. The problem is that we are embarrassed to acknowledge that we can't find our way out. So, we wander until we swallow our pride and ask Him for help.

Yes, I got out of the maze at the beach, but not until some kind people on the observation deck began shouting directions to me. I needed help, and felt humiliated. However, the feeling of humiliation faded quickly as it gave in to the relief of freedom.

Sin gets us mixed up. Satan wants us to be confused and embarrassed to ask for help. Put aside those feelings of pride and come to the Father, who will pull you out of the maze of sinfulness, wrap you in His arms and speak peace into your life.

By the way, that was my last venture into a maze. Forever!

I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, and not forsake them. (Isaiah 45:16)