May 19, 2018 Mike Kohler of West Fargo accidentally ran his first ever marathon. How do you accidentally run a full marathon? Mike had signed up to run the half marathon. The only problem was that Kohler had misread the start time for the half-marathon and ended up taking off with the runners competing in the full marathon. Following the pack, he ran the course heading north, instead of the southern route the half-marathoners were meant to follow.

Long story short, Mike went on to complete a full marathon but only go credit for completing a half marathon. Kohler finished the 26.2 mile race in just under six hours. ”This just kind of proves you can do a lot more than what you think you can sometimes,” Kohler said about his unplanned accomplishment.

Why didn’t someone tell Mike Kohler he was going the wrong way?
He was running the wrong race! Would he have listened if they had told him?
Mike had his headphones in and he was determined to run the race. He was focused.

What race are you running? Are you running the rat race or the race that God has set before you? Every day we make choices about how to live and what direction to go. Are you heading in the wrong direction?

The truth is that there are many distractions in life and we can get off course very easily and find our selves heading in the wrong direction. If someone told you that you were heading in the wrong direction would you listen to them? Would you believe them? Would you change your direction?

Metanoia is a Greek word that means to change one’s mind. Metanoia is the word translated repentance in the New Testament. Repentance includes a change of mind which would result in a change of direction as well as a change of action. I would live life differently if I really believed I was going the wrong way.

What direction are you going in spiritually? Are you walking daily in His ways and His truth or do you need a change of direction? Going in the wrong direction is not something new. In Ezekiel 18 the Israelites were going the wrong direction, again! He encouraged them to repent, turn and live.

Repentance is a change of mind, heart and it leads us to live changed lives.

My word to you? Turn and live!

PB

“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel?  For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.”

Ezekiel 18:30-32