Just ONE road.
Seward is 125 miles south of Anchorage (AK)—at the end of the incredibly scenic Seward Highway. The locals simply call it “THE Road.” It winds along tidal waters and salty marshes. Around and through mountain passes and a quirky village or two. Over rushing rivers and deep gorges—between towering peaks that’ll take your breath away.
If you’re driving from Anchorage, get set for a thrilling ride! But, if you’re in a hurry … don’t be. There is no alternate route (in a car). No interstate to get you there FAST. There’s ONE road to Seward. That’s it. Two and a half hours … maybe more. Likely more.
Thank God for the ONE road, though, because there are plenty of other exciting destinations in Alaska that you might WANT to drive to, but can’t. There is NO ROAD to get you there. There’s NO land route to Juneau or Sitka. NO ROAD to Ketchikan or Kotzebue or Nome.
But to Seward, there IS. ONE ROAD in—and ONE ROAD out.
I remember the times, while living there, when THE Road between Seward and Anchorage was closed:
- When melting spring snows caused the Resurrection River to go renegade, and in its rampage it took out the bridge.
- When summer storms dumped so much water into the streams that they overflowed the highway, and the salmon were literally swimming across The Road!
- When autumn fires burned the muskeg and dry timber so close to the highway that smoke and flying embers made The Road unsafe and impassable.
- When the heavy winter snow-load on the mountains in Turnagain Pass suddenly let loose in a mighty avalanche, burying The Road under tons of icy debris.
- Often, summer road crews had to close The Road completely during the wee hours of the night—using the precious few months of midnight sun to complete their work. If you were heading to Seward on one of those nights after The Road closed, too bad. You sat in your car until morning.
So many reasons to close The Road. Storms, fires, floods, accidents, earthquakes, avalanches, road construction—even a family of moose—could potentially block the ONE ROAD to Seward. The ONE way becomes NO way.
There is an interesting perspective to apply here. Jesus said, “I AM the WAY … no one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 CSB) There’s ONE road to God—it is Jesus. That’s it. None other.
There are times, though, when life’s trials seem to come out of no where. Tragedies, disasters, catastrophes suddenly seem to avalanche down onto our path. Hurts and offenses pile up like a roadblock between us and GOD—halting our progress and bringing us no closer to the life and joy and peace we hunger for.
Our very foundations are shaken, and the straight course that was once so familiar is completely turned upside down. “You can’t get there from here” seems to be the mocking message of the Deceiver as he stands before us, blocking our progress.
At these times, Jesus seems far away and unreachable. We feel like Job when he cried, “Oh that I knew where I might find him!” (Job 23:3 KJV)
But, the TRUTH is, when Jesus said, “I AM the WAY …” He was invoking the revealed holy name of God—“I AM THAT I AM.” (“Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh” – Exodus 3:14-15) In other words, He IS continually and forever the WAY. When we don’t know what to do or where to go—look to Jesus.
“I AM the door: by me if any man enters in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out …” (John 10:9 KJV) Jesus is the DOOR that’s always open.
There’s no disaster that can ever close the road to Him. No enemy can ever obstruct THE Way. Access to Him is never blocked. Never barricaded. Never barred to the one who truly desires to get to Him. There’s no toll or restriction or road closure ever—THE ROAD is always open for whosoever will.
“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16 NIV)
There’s ONE road IN—to truth, rightness, peace, joy, acceptance, forgiveness, freedom, contentment, and salvation—just ONE. It’s JESUS. There is no alternate route. There’s ONE Way. THE Way.
“Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction … your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘THIS is the way; walk in it.’” (Isaiah 30:20-21 NIV)
There’s ONE road OUT—of sin, confusion, bondage, and shame. One road out of this earthly existence to heaven, glory, and life eternal—just ONE. It’s JESUS.
ONE answer, ONE solution, ONE direction. ONE road IN and ONE road OUT. The “locals” know—THE ROAD has a name—it is JESUS. “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 NIV) Andre Crouch sang it, “Beside Him there’s no other—Jesus IS the WAY.”
Prayer: Dear Jesus, You said, “Come to me, all of you who are struggling and burdened, and I will give you rest.” I know there’ll be rest at the end of the journey, but the wonder of it is THIS: YOU are the REST and the only ROAD to it! Thank You! I’ll never feel lost again! Amen.
