Maybe you’re a little like me and love the open road, long rides through twisty mountains, ocean-side cruises, and straight highways that seemingly go on forever. Like a dog with his head out the car window, I love the feel of wind on my face and sun on my back as I ride to destinations anywhere, somewhere, and nowhere in particular.
I’ve ridden through a few places along the way that don’t sound so enticing to everyone but are thrilling to others, places like Cut n Shoot (TX), Slaughter (LA), and Tombstone (AZ). There is Bad Water (NV), Dismal (NC), Dull (OH), Boring (MD), Murder Island (Nova Scotia), and Defiance (NM). Have you ever been through Little Hope (TX), Peculiar (MO), or Liars Corner (OH)? Then there’s the Badlands in the South Dakota, Death Valley in California, and even Hell in Michigan.
I’ve been to other places, too, like Happy (TX) and Happyland (OK). There are other joyous towns – Happy Valley (TN), Mount Joy (DE), Sunnyside (WA), and Bliss (MI). Have you ever been through Awe (KY), Nice (CA), Superior (WI), Loveland (CO), Sugar City (CO), Friendship (AK), and Allgood (AZ)? Here’s a travel tip, always stop at places like Coffee Point (ID), Hot Coffee (MS), Santa Claus (GA), and especially Paradise (AZ).
Along the way, I’ve learned there are only two roads at life’s end – one leads to Heaven the other to Hell, and I’m not talking about a city in Michigan
God’s word – the Bible – says there’s a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death (Proverbs 14:12). That way or road leads straight to hell. The Bible says hell is a fiery lake of burning sulfur (Rev. 21:8), a fiery furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 13:50), the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41).
That sounds like a bad destination to me, but who is on that road? Do you not know the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the Kingdom of God (I Corinthians 6:9-10).
There’s another path, one that leads to heaven – it’s brilliance like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal (Rev. 21:10) … the wall made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass (Rev. 21:18).
The Bible paints a beautiful picture of heaven, but who will ride through the pearly gates to the land with many mansions? Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life (Rev. 21:27).
So, how does one ride through the gates of heaven and not the gates of hell? Let’s take a trip down what’s often referred to as the Roman Road.
In Romans 3:23, God’s word says, For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. That’s right, we’ve all – you and me included – missed the mark and failed to live up to God’s standards.
So, what are the consequences for those times we missed the mark? According to Romans 6:23, the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. We all are allowed to choose – accept death or the free gift of eternal life in heaven with God, but make no mistake about it, sin brings death and hell without Christ.
Fortunately, we learn in Romans 5:8 that God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
So, what now you ask? Romans 10:9-10 says, If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Romans 10:13 puts it this way, for whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Now what? It’s time to act. Repent, therefore, and be converted that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord (Acts 3.19).
There’s nothing magic to it. No one is excluded from the invitation to a new life. It doesn’t matter what sins lie in the rearview mirror of your life or what roads you’ve traveled. God’s unconditional forgiveness and invitation to spend eternity in the city of gold is open to you. However, without action on your part, make no mistake about it, you are on the road to the fiery furnace of hell.
With that in mind, if you’ve never confessed the name of Christ, repented of your sins, and had your name written in the Lamb’s book of life, now is the time to take a new road. It’s simple – right now, this very moment, verbally acknowledge to God that you have sinned, repent or turn from those past ways, accept Christ as your Savior, and then thank God for the free gift of forgiveness and eternal life available through his son.
That’s all it takes to get off the road to hell and find a new path that leads to heaven. The choice is yours – spend eternity in the fiery furnace pits of hell or the jeweled city of gold.
If you have taken the simple step to travel a new road, then stop living a rebellious life. Find a Bible and start reading God’s instructions for a life filled with purpose. It will help you understand how to replace your past ways with His ways. Find a Bible-believing church; after all, the Christian life is not meant to be lived alone. For more information or a helping hand, email Brad Harrington at Outrider Ministries.
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God (I Cor. 1:18).
If you like and are blessed by the content created by Outrider Ministries for Christ, we encourage you to regularly visit our website while also telling your family and friends about us. Never forget – you are important to us and vital to our success at spreading the word of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all the world. May His abounding love, mercy, and grace be upon you.