“Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run, there’s still time to change the one you’re on.” is a quote from the song Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin. It does a pretty good job of describing the choices one makes in this adventure we call life. As it pertains to the title of this article, “Road meet Rubber” it lets everyone see how the two roads depict the choices everyone makes in life.
The road represents the world. The road has many paths a person can take. Every road but one leads to destruction. Those paths are too numerous to mention. No, everything the world has to offer, from both the past and at present is ludicrous.
Remember what King Solomon, ‘the Preacher’ said, in (NASB) Ecclesiastes 1: 9, “That which has been is that which will be, and that which has been done is that which will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun.” It has been said that Solomon was the smartest man that ever lived; I think I’ll tag along with him. This same sentiment has been said another way. It comes from the more recent quote, “we’ve seen it before and we’ll see it again.” No, there are many paths and some flat out distrust or hate God. Some try to proclaim that all paths lead to the same place, namely heaven. Regretfully, their wishful thinking isn’t really reasoning. However, it is reasonable to exclaim that reason must proclaim that all paths can’t and don’t lead to the same place.
This brings us to what the word rubber represents in this article. Again returning to the song “Stairway to Heaven” there is a line which states, “As we wind on down the road.” This comment depicts life and what everyone is doing. But there is one path that is right and true. That path is set upon a firm foundation (yes roads have foundations too) where your eyes are fixed on Jesus Christ and you go where He leads. He is the author of Truth, redemption and reconciliation. God Himself has told us in Matthew 3: 17, “and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.’” Again in Matthew 17: 5 God tell us, “While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, ‘This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!’” So, in truth, being a follower of Jesus Christ isn’t only a great plan it’s the only path with a clear road ahead.
In the previous two articles some of the world’s paths have been addressed and shown to be deficient. Science has been shown to be totally insufficient and even detrimental to living a life with meaning. Their only outcome is dire and hopeless. Every non-believer who walks a road independent from God does so with no way to truly know right from wrong or good from bad. They have no provable standards. They want to believe they are right with no way to justify those beliefs.
Sadly, it doesn’t end there and oftentimes it’s worse. Many people don’t want to listen to God and some will go so far as to perpetrate evil upon their fellow man or woman. The past is full of accounts of such individuals and it hasn’t stopped. Not so incidentally the thoughts and beliefs of non-believers continue to become more estranged from any sense of morality and sound judgement.
Occasionally someone notices the inconsistencies and questions the various world views of the world. Regretfully, just because they get it doesn’t mean they automatically turn to the Creator and giver of life. The job God has entrusted to us, as believers is to proclaim the gospel and to give an account for our belief in Jesus Christ. We are to be His ambassadors as II Corinthians 5: 20 states, “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” Likewise, in I Peter 3: 15 tells us we are to be apologists saying, “but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;”. Yes, Christians have work to do, but we aren’t alone in this endeavor. The Holy Spirt is involved in calling people to himself as well. All heaven rejoices when a sinner repents, Turns to God and the truth and the saving grace of Jesus Christ. It brings pure joy to proclaim the truth of John 17: 17, “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.”
Ultimately, the Word, is the most powerful tool a believer has when speaking with non-believers. This term ‘word,’ is the Living Word, Jesus Christ and is also the written word, the Bible. Standing right there along beside it is Truth. Both Peter and John recognize its importance. Both say that it is the truth that sanctifies, and sets us apart from the world. John goes farther saying Your Word, including both meanings, is the Truth. Jesus Christ himself confirms it when proclaiming in John 14: 6 … “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”
There is only one truth and one way to come to the truth, The Word. Everything else is a poor imitation at best and is normally a fabrication made out of whole cloth. This is the place where the road and the individual paths a person makes truly meets the rubber of the true path to an eternal life. That, as a hymn states, will truly be a glorious day.