A BARRIER ON MY ROADWAY TO HELL

Jesus speaks of two roadways, the strait and narrow and the broad and wide. One leads to life eternal in Heaven and the other to eternal destruction. He says that many will go to Hell compared to few that will go to Heaven. God's great plan for man is to make a way for us to go to Heaven. The Bible says, God is "not willing that any should perish," (2 Peter 3:9). Heaven is the prepared place for a prepared people.

On the other hand, God has prepared an everlasting fire for the devil and his angels, (Matthew 25:41). He has even put barriers on our roadway to Hell. One such barrier (which I like to call a hill) is the hill of gospel preaching. You and I must climb over the hill of gospel preaching in order to go to Hell.

I will be responsible for all the sermons and Bible studies I've been in since my youth. If I reject all the lessons I have heard in my lifetime and am condemned to that place of everlasting torment I'm convinced I will get the hottest place there.

God has used gospel preaching in all ages to persuade men to avoid Hell by staying on the strait and narrow road of life, which leads to Heaven. Peter talks of Noah, before the great flood, as being a "preacher of righteousness," (2 Peter 2:5).

God told Jonah, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you," (Jonah 3:2, NKJ).

In New Testament times before Jesus' public ministry Matthew says, "In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand," (Matthew 3:1-2). Jesus himself was a preacher with the same message, (Matthew 4: 17).

Jesus sent out the seventy to preach to the Jews. He also commissioned the apostles to go into the entire world to preach and baptize, (Mark 16:15-16). "It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe," (1 Corinthians 1:21).

Gospel preaching will either humble us or harden us. The same sun that melts butter will harden clay. The same word that is preached will save some and condemn others.

God's word is manifested through preaching, therefore we must take heed how we hear.

By Wendell Ward

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