Are we nearly there yet?
A church coach-driver realises there may be more to his passenger's irritating questions.

Can we have the radio on driver?
It always seems to be young people who ask me this. Maybe they want a distraction from where they are going (usually to school so who can blame them) and what it will be like when they get there. But the desire for distraction from "where am I going" and "what will it be like when I get there" is by no means limited to school children. Have you noticed how people will fill their minds with almost anything rather than think about God and life's "where am I going" questions. Things like: What happens after I die? Is there a heaven? If so, will I get in? Is there a hell? We don't like to think too much about these things just in case the answers are not what we want them to be, so "can we have the radio on driver?"

Which way are you going to go?
What they really mean is "I know a better way". What they forget to mention is that their way has a 6'6" width limit, a 3-ton weight limit and a low bridge that will turn the coach into a convertible. Worse still, the Gas Board started digging it up yesterday and it's now a dead-end. As a rough guide to the number of routes you will be offered simply divide the number of passengers by 2. Isn't this like other areas of life? Ask 50 people how to get to heaven and about half of them don't care and the other half will all have a different idea - most of which will be wrong. Two verses from the Bible come to mind: "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." (Proverbs 14:12) and the words of Jesus, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6)

Final destination
One has to have sympathy for the passenger who does not ask where they are going simply because they are convinced they know the answer - even if they are wrong. Sadly for them, their genuinely-held belief that they were going to Portsmouth will make no difference at all if they are on my coach to Birmingham. They will end up in Birmingham. Given my sense of direction, some would question this but my point is that a sincere belief, if wrong, will not get you to where you want to go. Substitute Heaven and Hell for Portsmouth and Birmingham (though no comparisons are intended) and you get the idea.

Are we nearly there yet?
The classic, although annoying, favourite. I once gave a prize to a young girl who set a record by asking this within 60 seconds of moving off. I usually reply "NO" but I have to admit it is a perfectly reasonable question. It is even more reasonable when applied to life's destination. The Bible describes a person's life as a "vapour". "For what is your life? It is even a vapour that appears for a little time and then vanishes away" (James 4:14). A resolve to turn to God tomorrow is not much good when you could be run over by a bus (or more likely a coach driven by me!) later today. Are we nearly there yet? - well YES, a lot nearer than you might think, and we may arrive at any moment!

So have a safe journey, but remember there are only two destinations, only one way to the right one - and no return tickets.

(All quotations are from the New King James Version of the Bible).