I’m writing this blog whilst riding on the overground train in east London. Feeling slightly miffed to be honest but choosing to enter into rest and make the most of this little faux pas. You see, I am on my way to West London and I am cutting it fine time wise, but providing I get this train I won’t be too late. My phone says the next train leaves in 3 minutes. So I get to the station and as usual there are two trains. But there are no signs to say which one will go first and no one to ask.
Eeesh. Dilemma. Which one do I get on? I see that there’s a train full of people so I naturally jump on that one thinking that is the wisest thing to do. I disregard the check in my spirit and I ignore the train at the platform with only a few people on it, instead jumping on the one that is most full.
No One Seems Miffed
You know where I’m going with this right? Yup, so the time comes to leave the platform and our train doesn’t seem to be leaving. I’m properly watching my clock now wondering what pray do tell is holding this train up. When suddenly the train that barely had anyone on it, that was nonchanantly chilling on the other platform - quietly leaves - now on its way to where I needed to go. Oh. I can’t believe it and I ask someone in disbelief “Erm has the other train just gone first?” The girl responds “yes” , shrugging their shoulders - “that’s just what we were saying.” But aside from that no one seems fazed. People seemed literally unmoved. Perhaps they were miffed, but they just didn’t show it.
I’m now looking at my watch and so aware that I am going to be superrr late and I’m gutted because I left home with plenty of time. I’m frustrated that there were no signs and no one at the platform telling people which train to get on. And I’m a little annoyed at myself for simply assuming the train that most people were on, was the right place to be.
The Narrow Road
Yet as I sit there God immediately reminds me that this whole scenario is just like the narrow road to heaven. And the sobering truth is that the majority of people are going along with the masses thinking that surely this must be the right way. When in fact it’s the few sitting on that other train on their jack jones looking like fools, who have actually found the narrow path to life.
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad and easy to travel is the path that leads the way to destruction and eternal loss, and there are many who enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow and difficult to travel is the path that leads the way to [everlasting] life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13-14 AMP
And just like all the passengers on the station I was at, required a sign or a station inspector or share what he knew, in order for us to reach our destination before it was too late - when it comes to eternal salvation, unless someone hears what the right way is from someone who is “in” the know, how are they even going to know which the right route is? Unless there are signposts to follow how are they going to be led to the narrow path????
How Will They?
Unless we believers are sharing the gospel how are the lost going to hear the message? And unless we rise up as signposts toward the gospel the lost will just keep sitting in darkness - at times rather comfortably and unfazed about the eternal loss they will suffer, unless they discover the truth.
“But how will people call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how will they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher (messenger)? And how will they preach unless they are commissioned and sent [for that purpose]? Just as it is written and forever remains written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!”” Romans 10:14-15
In the end I was twenty minutes late. Not exactly ideal but certainly not the end of the world. Yet the sobering, deeply convicting and terrifying truth is that when it comes to knowing the right route to salvation and finding the narrow road to eternal life it will literally be the end of their world for countless image bearers of Christ who may never know the truth unless we show them the way. Countless souls who will otherwise find themselves in eternity without Christ.
Time Is Of Essence
Time is so short my loves. The majority of people are on the broad and wide road heading to destruction. Those of us on the narrow road must ensure that we are not simply following the masses but we must stay at our posts and radiantly shine our light, rising up as signposts towards eternal life in Christ. Messengers of the gospel, ministers of reconciliation who simply cannot afford to let the masses stay on the wide and broad road. The cost is far too high and time is far too short.
May you and I be so deeply stirred us to share the gospel to our family, friends, colleagues and to those in the highways and byways, like never before. May compassion for the lost arrest us radically. May we boldly disciple nations in every sphere of influence and may we long in our inmost being, for Jesus, the precious Lamb that was slain, who is now seated upon the throne, to receive His full reward.
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