Recently, I came across a work crew who was diligently working on paving a road. What a difference it makes to cover all those imperfections, potholes, and cracks. That started me thinking about the statement, “The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.” Well, I for one don’t even know what that means, but I think it is communicating that if you have good intentions but don’t follow through with them, you are going to Hell. I don’t know who got away with telling that sort of whopper, but it cannot be supported in Scripture.
Actually, the road to Hell is paved with sin, all kinds of sin. That means that anything that is not in accordance with God’s Word and Will, is paving the road to Hell. That is because sin is separating us from God, and that road takes us in a completely different direction from God the Father. Jesus speaks of the good road in John 14:6. He says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” Aha, contrary to the thinking that all roads lead to Heaven, there is only one road that leads to God, and that is the road named Jesus.
Christ provides a little more information about these two “roads” in Matthew 7:13-14, “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” What that tells me is that a lot of people are on the WRONG road; a road I would suggest is poorly paved as it reveals cracks, potholes, imperfections, and fading. The road to Hell is like a metropolitan freeway at rush hour loaded with people. The road to heaven is a road less traveled, more like a country road, with very few travelers.
Roads are repaired two ways; one is to cover up the damaged surface, to put a new top layer over the defects. The other is to tear out the old road and put in a completely new one. In the Old Testament, mankind’s sins were “covered-up” by the sacrifices of animals; a new top-layer was put on the pitted roads. In the New Testament, we see that Jesus tore up the old road and laid an entirely new foundation. John the Baptist said of Christ, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” You see, Jesus Christ did not just cover our sins but He took them all away if we believe in Him, and allow His pure sacrifice to save us. He tore up the old deteriorated road and installed a fresh one that leads straight to God the Father in Heaven. How cool is that? If you don’t know the way, ask for directions. He provided a roadmap.
Well, what are you waiting for? Get on the right road and hit the gas!
