Have you ever wondered what happens to people when they die? Does God give them a chance to accept his redemption in Jesus? The honest answer to such questions is: we don’t know for sure. In “Crossroads” Paul Young gives us a very hopeful outcome.
In a story that channels C.S Lewis and George Macdonald, Crossroads tells the story of a self absorbed, "self made" man and how God takes him on a journey to discover the emptiness in his heart and the redemption that ensues. He suffers a brain tumor and falls into a coma. His soul encounters Jesus and the Holy Spirit who take him on this fantastic journey.
I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag; suffice it to say that once again Paul Young helps us to explore those dark parts of our soul that we refuse to acknowledge. The truth is that those parts are the things that impact our personalities the most. Our fears and disappointments-coupled with fake religion have resulted in our distrust for God, survival mechanisms and over reliance on self.
The thing I like most about the book is that it shows us that no one is all bad. Some people are mostly good, while others are mostly bad, but they’re not all bad. We are all in a journey trying to find happiness in a heavily tainted world. And God is with us helping us find our way through the darkness. As with the Shack, Paul emphasizes the fact that God in his love for us will not complete the healing process without our participation. It always starts with an invitation o participate. Even the Gospel we preach is an invitation to participate in his Life. Even though he has finished it all, died on the cross and included us in the life of Christ, he still beckons us to believe and participate. This shows love and respect for his creation.
Many other books raise such high standards of spiritual discipline and asceticism that you end up with a feeling of inadequacy. This book however, makes you appreciate the spiritual in the mundane; seeing God in everyday life. I personally don’t enjoy climbing mountains, taking hikes or going on fasts. I rather enjoy family, friendships, and laughter as gifts from God. To me these things are most holy.
So grab a copy and enjoy a moving story about Gods amazing Grace and his unrelenting pursuit of humankind. I’ll leave with one of my favorite quotes from the book:
“But don’t I need walls? Aren’t they good things?”
He felt the hug from behind. “You need boundaries” said the voice of Jesus, “but not walls. Walls divide while boundaries honor”. Tony let himself relax into this tender embrace, his tears unexpectedly appearing and spilling softly onto the ground.
