The way of the wicked is shown to us here. The example used in chapter 7 is of a prostitute, but this is just one lane on the broad road to hell. It’s like being on the beltway around D.C. There are lots of roads leading to many destinations. The broad road of sin has one destination: hell. God has put many road blocks. Do what the detours say and get on the straight and narrow road.
Proverbs 7: 24 Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth. 25 Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. 26 For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her. 27 Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.
Proverbs 13: 13 Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.15 Good understanding giveth favor: but the way of transgressors is hard.
It seems like you can’t get from Abingdon to Marion anymore without some kind of sign on the road. It could be an accident or road work. You see the sign and look ahead and don’t see anything. Then way ahead you see the cones. Some wait until the last minute to get out of the blocked lane. They put out the signs to give us plenty of warning. There’s plenty of time to get over. The cones steer people to the other lane.
How like the road to hell this is. It’s easy to sin but only one way to be right. There is one road to torment, death and destruction. It’s a broad road. There is a God in heaven that puts out road blocks warning us we’re in the wrong lane. One reason I delayed accepting Jesus was I felt the road was for people better than me. Thank God for people who let me know I could change. You can’t do it on your own. God made it hard to go to hell. The obstacles make us consider the dead end we’re on. The road may be smooth like the interstate but the road of sin does lead to hell and eternal death. The warning signs are there to let us know we don’t have to travel there. Calvary opened the highway. We can change highways!
Scripture puts us all under sin. As sinners we are speeding toward hell. It’s hard to find lost people. People don’t think they are lost. They don’t see the hell that’s waiting. Jesus said that except we repent we will perish. We must repent to get off the road to hell. When we admit we need help he’ll open us the exits. The signs of the time plainly tell us the end will be soon. We could still die before that. We could lose our mind. An injury could happen that prevents us from dealing with our soul. If the Holy Spirit is speaking to you, it’s a warning sign. Surrounding us are good moral people who don’t see their need to be saved. They are right along with the wicked on the wrong road. All are commanded to repent. If the devil is trying to take your steering wheel tell him to get behind you and call on the Lord.
The path of the wicked leads to hell and that way is hard. God could force us, knock us flat. We have freedom of choice and freedom of will. If we refuse, God respects that decision. He sends no one to hell but he’ll let people go there because that is their choice. If you dance the dance you’ll pay the fiddler. Consider the end. Consider the consequences of your decision. Thousands leave the world everyday unprepared to meet God. Many wonder how they got there. They thought they were doing all right. The rich man only took a minute to realize why he was in hell.
No matter what the world says there is a God. The Word was written down even in patriarch days of old. Holy men of God were inspired by the Holy Spirit and wrote the Bible. You’ll not get rid of the Word of God. The devil would like to. He’d like to get rid of all the warning signs God placed on the road. If you go to hell you’ll have to go over the Bible. People in hell would love to have a Bible, an altar, a song—one more chance—but it won’t happen. God gives all an opportunity to be saved. He puts road block after road block as a warning. The ark could have been completed in no time but Noah built and preached 120 years building the ark. It was a testament of the judgment to come but people ignored it. The cross of Christ is a road block to stop people in their tracks. It will change your direction. To get to hell you’ll have to climb over the cross. I’m glad this altar is still here. One day it will be a testimony with the open Word. When the Lord comes back people will line the altars and the Bible will be there against them. While there is still time get to the altar. There’s still room at the cross for you. There’s still time to get off the road to hell.
The song Highway to Hell put out years ago by a rock band caused great wickedness as people believed the lie. Many ended up in hell listening to its lies. We don’t know how far it is to hell but look around. If you’re going to wrong way, you need to change roads. The choice is yours and mine. If you veering toward the wrong lane get back and let God steer you to heaven. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. There is no other way to heaven except through and by him. There aren’t many ways—just one.
The way of transgressors is hard. The way to God is challenging but we can make it. Take heed of the road blocks.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 