Saul had been commissioned to go to Damascus to arrest Christians and bring them to Jerusalem to be tried, imprisoned, and possibly executed. He was a fire-breathing zealot or fanatic. Then Saul had a vision of Christ in His glory, and he became Paul, a humble preacher and apostle to the Gentiles. He had been instantly converted. The road to Damascus is the road of conversion. Have you travelled the road to Damascus?
Philip suddenly found himself on the little used desert road to Gaza. A chariot appeared driven by an Ethiopian official of high rank. As he rode along, the Ethiopian was reading the prophecy in Isaiah of the death and resurrection of the Messiah. He stopped the chariot and asked Philip if he could explain the Scriptures to him. Philip climbed up into the chariot and as they went on their way, the Ethiopian was convicted by the Holy Spirit and decided to be baptized. The road to Gaza is the road of repentance and surrender. Have you travelled the road to Gaza?
Cleopas and his wife Mary were on their way to their home in Emmaus on the Sunday morning following the Passover. Mary had been an eye witness of the crucifixion of Christ as one of the three Mary's at the foot of the cross (John 19:25). Their hopes had been dashed to the ground. They couldn't understand how their Messiah could be dead. Suddenly, Jesus appeared and their eyes were opened as He explained to them the gospel, and they went on their way rejoicing. They had experienced a revival of faith. The road to Emmaus is the road of revival. Have you travelled the road to Emmaus?
A certain man on the road to Jericho was set upon by thieves and left naked and badly wounded. Two travellers passed him by without stopping. Finally a Samaritan arrived, treated his wounds, put him on his donkey, and brought him to safety. Jesus told this story to answer the question of, "Who is my neighbor"? Actually, the question Jesus answered was, "What does it mean to be neighborly"? This story was used to illustrate the importance of service to our fellow man. The road to Jericho is the road of service. Have you travelled the road to Jericho?
The road to Damascus, the road to Gaza, the road to Emmaus, the road to Jericho all lead to the road of the cross. It is not enough to be converted, to repent and surrender, to have a revival, to serve your fellow man. The road of the cross is a lonely road, a narrow road, and few there be who find it. It is the road of self- sacrifice and cross bearing. We must be willing to take up our cross and follow Jesus. The way of the cross is the road of sacrifice. Have you travelled the "the way of the cross"?
