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
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