Watch Out For The Signs!
By Steve Popoola
The road was smooth and straight. Ben relaxed and pushed up the speed of the car a little. He was so engrossed in his driving that he did not notice the sign by the side of the road as it swept past. The sign indicated a diversion ahead but Ben was unaware of this.
Suddenly Ben saw a roadblock ahead. He instinctively slammed his foot on the breaks and the car skidded crazily across the road turning 180 degrees. Finally, the car stopped. Ben could feel his heart thumping as if it were going to burst right through his chest. He was still shaking all over when a man pulled up beside him.
“Are you alright?” the stranger asked. Ben could not trust himself to speak, He just nodded his head in the affirmative.
“You didn’t see the sign as you drove past”? Ben tried to speak this time and said “No” in a very weak and shaky voice.
“You were really lucky there, someone crashed here a few days ago, he wasn’t as fortunate as you are. Sure you are okay?”
Ben answered that he was okay and thanked the man for taking time to check on him. The stranger gave an understanding smile and walked towards his car. He looked back towards Ben and said, “Son, you watch those signs, okay?” Ben gave a weak smile and nodded.
Many of us are like Ben. We cruise through the Christian way without looking out for the signs God puts along the way to warn us of impending danger. Christ never said the road traveled by the believer will be smooth and uneventful rather, He said, “But the narrow gate and the road that lead to life are full of trouble. Only a few people find the narrow gate” (Matthew 7:14). It is not a road for the faint-hearted. It is a road traveled by those who know their God, who are strong and do exploits.
It is so easy to make wrong turnings in life. The wide way is so easy to follow. It is smooth, attractive and full of enticing things. Do you notice how advertisements draw our attention? Sometimes you wonder whether person on television is talking about the same detergent you are using or the same toothpaste you have used all your life. The enemy of our soul has one agenda in mind and that is to distract us away from our God-given purpose in life.
God on the other hand, has given us His word, which is like a billboard that you can hardly miss. He also set up road signs for us through the workings of the Holy Spirit. These road signs could be seen through discussion with other people, books, teachings and the promptings of the Holy Spirit within us. To ignore these signs could mean disaster and sometimes death.
You may have taken a couple of wrong turnings in your Christian journey up till now. I have Good news for you, you can get back on track. The psalmist tells us, “The Lord guides us in the way we should go and protects those who please Him. If they fall, they will not stay down because the Lord will help them up” (Psalm 37:23-24) All you need to do is make a u-turn by repenting from your sin and heading back in the direction where you veered off the road leading to life.
As we continue this journey through life to our eternal home, let us be sensitive and watchful. Let us not allow the things of this world which are temporary, to dull our spiritual senses. Let us remember that we have an enemy who will continue to put diversionary tactics along our way. We are however assured that the Lord will continue to guide us and lead us in the path that He has chosen for us since the beginning of creation.
(c) 2004, Biblepraise Fellowship Online
Steve Popoola was born in London but currently reside in Lagos, Nigeria with wife Maris and their two children, Praise and Stephanie. He works in the IT dept of a bank. Formerly an active singer, he still sings occasionally and speaks at invited forums. He is moderator of the Biblpraise Fellowship Online and editor of Biblepraise Newsletter, a weekly Christian e-zine.
To subscribe, send blank email to biblepraise-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. He can be reached through His email address, stpopoola@yahoo.com, or visit his website at http://www.biblepraise.org
“Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” –Matthew 7:14
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