The Parable of the Off-ramps

Once upon a time a man and his God started on a journey together. They walked up the glorious highway that ascended through eternity. Mile after mile the glory increased. However, the man did a strange thing whenever an issue or situation arose. He would exit the highway by the off-ramp and explore each road to its dead end. Battered and bruised, he would return to the highway and to his God and beg forgiveness and healing. Of course, the man’s Father would graciously take care of him.

After the seventy times seventh detour, God asked the man, “Why do you keep taking the side roads when you always come back battered and bruised?"

The man replied, “I need to verify that you are leading me on the best road."

God asked, “Don’t you trust Me?"

The man said, “Of course. That is why I keep coming back to You. My trust grows as I eliminate one side road after another."

God replied, “You don’t trust Me. You are trying to prove Me by process of elimination. There will be off-ramps throughout eternity. You will never reach the end and so you will never prove nor trust. Do you have more faith in Me or in your supposed proof?"