WHERE THE ROAD LEADS

By Akin Ojumu

Built on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets with Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, the tenets of Christianity have been carefully preserved and jealously guarded by those to whom the faith was first delivered. Knowing that savage wolves will come after they are gone who will not spare the flock, these righteous men built a wall of protection around the faith for which they were the guardian.

Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Early Christian Fathers codified the Canon of the faith in writing. Their Gospels and Epistles, together with the Torah, constitute what’s known as the Holy Bible. This sure Word of Prophecy is the pillar upon which Christianity stands. A Christian faith that conforms to what’s written in the Bible is Biblical Christianity.

But just as the Early Christian Fathers feared, savage wolves broke into the Christian assemblies. Well before their departure, false teachers and false prophets had already infiltrated the Church, polluting the Body of Christ with heretic doctrines. Consequently, Christianity evolved over time, transforming into something totally unrecognizable from the traditions of the Apostles, their immediate disciples, and the early Christian Fathers.

As it’s practiced today, the Christianity is a syncretic mixture of disparate religious beliefs and human philosophies. An assortment of strange and bizarre practices has been blended with the faith that was once for all delivered to the Saints.

Most of what’s done in the name of Christ today has no root in Scripture. Popular beliefs and common practices in the modern-day Church have their origin in the pit of hell. These doctrines of the devil have great appeal to the natural man. Because they are exactly what the flesh lusts after, they exact an irresistible pull on many.

Hoodwinked by spellbinding sermons that paint a rosy picture of a Christian life devoid of pain and suffering, absent of hardship and sorrow, and free from self-denial and self-sacrifice, a torrent of souls is pouring through the wide gate onto the wide road that leads to destruction.

Pumped and primed with the erroneous doctrine of perpetual health, limitless wealth, and extraordinary success, these hapless souls often crash and burn the moment the promised health, wealth, and success fail to materialize. Compromise here, compromise there, little by little, their lives get consumed by iniquities as they seek, by all means, to acquire the whole world to the detriment of their souls.

Ultimately, there are two destinies awaiting the two different categories of people in this world. There are the Saints, who trudge through the narrow gate onto the narrow road that leads to eternal salvation. And then there are the Ain’ts, who waltz through the broad gate into the broad road that leads to eternal damnation.

Apostle Paul was a Saint. The road he traveled was pretty narrow.

“Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant? If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.” (2 Corinthians 11:21-30).

Kenneth Copeland, on the other hand, is the quintessential Ain’t. The man cruises on the broad road.

“I’m a very wealthy man. You may think that house is too big. You may think it’s too grand. I don’t care what you think. I heard from heaven. Glory to God, hallelujah!” (Kenneth Copeland).

You must have heard of the saying, “If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there.” Well, that’s not the case with your eternal destiny. Whether you know it or not, the road you are on has a predetermined destination. So, before you take any step further, you’d be well-advised to ponder carefully and choose wisely.