For many years Jack Small had trodden the old road—the way which "seemeth right unto a man." Strong drink had ensnared him and now it was ruining him. It had robbed his purse. It had robbed him of prospects and of happiness. It was threatening to rob him of his soul. Although he was still a young man, comparatively indeed, in the prime of life he was truly in "the bondage of corruption." And content to be there! For he was unaware of the peril in which he stood. What could arouse him to a sense of his danger?
One afternoon on his way to a funeral he was walking along a familiar country road.
Ahead was a sign which he had never before seen. As he came near he saw inscribed upon it the words:
"DON'T USE THE OLD ROAD.
IT IS DANGEROUS.
KEEP TO THE NEW ROAD."
The sign referred only to the two roads branching off before him. They had no reference to spiritual matters but "all things serve His might." The message on the signboard made Jack think: it made him look down the years ahead. Was he not traveling on the old road of sin? It had seemed safe enough in his eyes, but what was it in the eyes of God? And what was to be its end?
"The end thereof are the ways of death."
The death of a friend had brought Jack to this district. Maybe his own death was not far off—nearer perhaps than he thought.
And beyond that dread event that would fix his destiny, lay eternity— ETERNITY—with all its bliss for the saved, but with all its woe for the ungodly. He was still on the "old road" and it was "dangerous" indeed. To pursue it further meant destruction in the end.
As yet it was not too late! Here before him was the new road, open and safe. He could tread it with a sure foot, for Christ Himself is "the way" of salvation and of peace.
Jack stood at the fork of the roads. The "old road," so familiar to him, would bring him most quickly to his destination, "the end thereof." But, at best, he had found "the old road"—the way of the transgressor— to be "hard." Though it was "broad" enough, there were many pitfalls to snare the unwary. Slippery mud-holes abounded, and thorns and briars thrust tenuous arms around those who came that way. Why should he not leave it? Many times, as he had washed off the mud and tried to cover or remove the scratches and bruises received on that devious route, he had thought of the course of Wisdom. But in his heart he had doubted that "her ways are ways of pleasantness,. and all her paths are peace." Proverbs. 3:17. Now, face to face with "danger" on one hand and an untried path on the other, he hesitated.
Again Jack looked at the sign-board. Was it an untried path? Someone was pointing him to it; someone had traveled the "new road"; someone had found it to be good. Oh, the folly of all the evanescent pleasures of the "old road"! Compared to the joys of the "new" they were indeed rubbish.
Ashamed of his doubts and his questionings, Jack turned to the One who had trodden the path before him. He fled to the Savior and received from His nail-pierced hands forgiveness, full and free. And today he keeps to the "new road" and rejoices as he treads it while ever nearing are the glorious courts of everlasting blessedness.
Oh friend, which road are you treading?
Be warned in time:
"DON'T USE THE OLD ROAD.
IT IS DANGEROUS.
KEEP TO THE NEW ROAD."