Thought for the Month - April 2016

"Anticipated traffic numbers" by Barry Adair
(Stairway to Heaven or Highway to Hell?)

I hate queues and I hate queuing. Those who know me will know that "massive queues" is an oft-used phrase of mine. When I go out with a large bunch from work for coffee or lunch I have been known to sneak my way further up to the front of the queue. Apologies guys! When I’m going out anywhere in the car, I will purposely choose the route avoiding any traffic congestion, even if it means a longer journey. And I have the car radio on in the morning to listen out for warnings of high traffic numbers during my morning commute to work.

Talking about anticipated traffic numbers, by now you will have had a good look at this month's picture (above). It is one of those "funnies" you see via email or on Facebook or Twitter these days. Like me, it may have raised a wry smile but among other things this month I want to see if there is any truth behind the punchy phrase…

The fact that there's a highway to hell and a stairway to heaven says a lot about anticipated traffic numbers.

For those of you who didn’t listen to heavy metal music as a kid, it is a reference to the songs "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin and "Highway to Hell" by AC/DC. And of course, the titles of both songs are references to a couple of Bible passages:

Stairway to Heaven (Jacob's ladder)
He had a dream, and behold, a ladder was set on the earth with its top reaching to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.
(Genesis 28:12)

Highway to Hell (the broad way)
"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."
(Matthew 7:13-14)

As you can see, the Bible also speaks about anticipated traffic numbers. The way to heaven and eternal life is narrow with low traffic numbers while the way to hell and destructive isolation is broad with high traffic numbers.

The narrow/small gate mentioned in Matthew 7:13-14 is the Lord Jesus Christ…

"I (Jesus) am the door (gate); if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture."
(John 10:9, my additions in parentheses)

Of course this punchy "funny" going around social media isn't meant as a timely reminder of the realities of heaven and hell. Too many have already made up their mind that God (if indeed He exists) would never send anyone to hell (if indeed hell exists). What I would want to do in this Thought is to debunk this naïve thinking. The Bible is clear that heaven and hell are real places. Jesus taught more about hell than he did about heaven. The warnings are clear and unambiguous. Those who reject God’s free offer of salvation will spend an eternal isolation in hell while those who humbly accept that Jesus Christ died for their sins will spend eternity with Him in paradise. (Matthew 25:46, Daniel 12:2, Revelation 20:15, Romans 6:23, Hebrews 9:27, John 14:2 etc.)

Popular culture today has effectively branded the devil as a small red mischievous cartoon character with a pointy tail. There are no indications of his lying, devious, hateful, jealous, murderous, perverted nature. Far too many have been blinkered by lies and deception and are blindly walking towards an eternity in hell…

"And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world (the devil) has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."
(2 Corinthians 4:3-4, my addition in parenthesis)

In addition, traits such as purity, holiness, gentleness and self-control no longer seem to matter anymore while pride, riches, drug-taking and excess now seems to be what gets you noticed in the world today. Just to make my point, "Stairway to Heaven/Highway to Hell" is also the name of a music compilation album featuring bands that performed at the Moscow Music Peace Festival. Each song is a cover of a famous solo artist or rock band who had suffered a drug or alcohol-related death. It even includes an extensive "dedication list" of artists who died in this way!

Please don't get stuck in the massive queues heading for hell and ultimate eternal isolation. Seek out the narrow way that leads to eternal life. It may be a lonelier walk with fewer people travelling that way and it can be tough-going sometimes, but the destination is heaven itself!

In the morning as I wake
I pray my eyes do see
On this narrow road I walk
You have made a path for me

Through all the bitter storms
Whatever comes our way
You will guide this vessel home
To live for all my days
                                        (Sidewalk Prophets)

Until next month (DV)…

Are you SURE that you have your place booked in Heaven? Read this if you're not!