Messages From Highway Signboards

Narrator: Chris Genthree
Duration: 4min
 •  4 min. read  •  grade level: 6
Memory Verse: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105105NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psalm 119:105)
Signboards along the highways can often be real attention getters. They tell us where and what we should eat, at which motel we should spend the night, what we should buy, and on and on. Some signboards present a very general message, but others present a very personal one. Have you ever thought of how many “signboards” there are in God’s Word, the Bible? — messages that should demand our attention: “All have sinned” (Rom. 5:1212Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12)); “Ye must be born again” (John 3:77Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. (John 3:7)); “The blood of Jesus Christ His [God’s] Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)), and many more.
For many months on a main highway in the Chicago area there was a signboard with a very personal message: “Carolyn, I love you! Rusty.” Rusty must have really cared for Carolyn, to pay what that message cost to run for so many months on an expensive highway sign. Do you think Carolyn believed Rusty’s message? The Apostle Paul had a personal message for a man in charge of a jail. In Acts 16:3030And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? (Acts 16:30), the jailer asked him, “What must I do to be saved?” Paul’s message from God to him was, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31). This is still God’s personal message to each sinner today. This message was very expensive for God to present. He had to give His beloved Son to be punished and to die for sin. Do you believe God’s message?
On a highway in Montana a large signboard advertised "1,000 used books for sale,” at a store in the next town. What a large collection of used books! Many of those books would be old and have outdated and useless information. Have you ever read the most important book, God’s Word, the Bible? It does not give us outdated and useless information; it gives us the up-to-date truth! It not only tells us the only way to be saved, but it also has messages to guide us all through our life. “Thy Word [the Bible] is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalms 119:105105NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psalm 119:105).
While traveling through Wyoming we saw a large sign that advertised: “Campground — Over 200 shade trees!” That would seem like a strange message for people who live in parts of the country where many trees grow, but it was a good message for that part of Wyoming where there are almost no trees. On a hot summer day many travelers would welcome those shade trees and would stop to camp there. The Bible’s message to those who belong to the Lord Jesus is, “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.” Psalms 23:22He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. (Psalm 23:2). The Lord Jesus offers us welcome relief from the burning and scorching of sin. He will care for us even when the world around us is dry and barren.
In New Jersey there were large signs on many of their highways with this message: “Time is running out!” This was to remind people about a certain government bill that they were to act on. This is also one of God’s messages for you to act on, because God’s time may be running out for you. “Ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” James 4:1414Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. (James 4:14). When your time here on earth has run out where will you be? There are only two answers — heaven or hell. If you will accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour now, your answer will be heaven. You won’t have to worry about your time running out.
Many of the signboards we see do not give us a good message; in fact, some of them carry bad messages. But a farmer in northern Illinois displayed a very good message for everyone that passed his barn, “To God Be The Glory.” It would be wonderful if each one of us gave God the glory due to Him by acting on His messages in the Bible and thanking Him for His personal love for us.
ML-07/03/1988