The Highway to Hell: Part 3

April 2

(Psalm 36:4&12} “Even on his bed he plots evil; he commits himself to a sinful course and does not reject what is wrong. {12} See how the evildoers lie fallen-- thrown down, not able to rise!”

(Acts 9:1-9,17-18 NIV) “Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest {2} and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. {3} As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. {4} He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" {5} "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. {6} "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." {7} The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. {8} Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. {9} For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything… {17} Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord--Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here--has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." {18} Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized…”

On the highway to hell we stop listening to our conscience. We tune it out. It grows weaker and weaker. Things we said we’d never do become daily occurrences. The voice of God grows faint and eventually, our conscience is rendered useless. We’re committed to sin and we cease rejecting what is wrong. We begin to make deliberate decisions to sin. We plan to do bad stuff, even as we lie in our beds. We even begin to take pride in our sin. It becomes a badge to wear… a flag to wave… an anthem to sing. But eventually, the highway comes to an abrupt end. We don’t see it coming and we hit the proverbial brick wall. We fall and we can’t get up. We crash and burn and end up flat on our backs. But being flat on our back has one bright spot: it offers us one last opportunity to look up. God in his grace gives us one last chance. Are you there? Look up. Change the road you’re on. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day