Routes

What’s your route? Are you headed down the road to Emmaus? Damascus? Gaza? Travelers on each of those roads met Christ. At some time in our lives, we all do.

And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. (Luke 24:13-15 KJV)

And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. (Acts 9:3-5 KJV)

And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. (Acts 8:26-28 KJV)

Are you still reading? Or did the large amount of scripture cut your interest? I hope you’ve gone further and looked up each one of these travelers and have come to know:

n Two unnamed men who were discussing recent events in Jerusalem, and met Christ Himself who explained those events from scriptures.

n Saul, who became Paul, who started out persecuting believers but after meeting with Christ spent the rest of his life bringing others to Him. Who knew scriptures from childhood, yet did not understand. Who in is described in Acts 9:11 as “he prayeth.”

n A eunuch of great authority who read from Isaiah, had questions about those scriptures and had them explained by Philip – who introduced him to Christ.

There comes a time to each of us, as it did to this list. Awareness and reasoning.

And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. (Acts 24:25 KJV)

There is no record that Felix ever found it to be convenient. He met Christ, and moved on without Him. From what is written, Agrippa did the same:

Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. (Acts 26:28 KJV)

Again, there is no record that he was persuaded. In the comfort of their courts they could not repeat the words of a thief:

And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. (Luke 23:42)

Never to hear the reply:

And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:43)