Which road are you on?

Amos 5:14-15 (NLT)

14 Do what is good and run from evil so that you may live! Then the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies will be your helper, just as you have claimed. 15 Hate evil and love what is good; turn your courts into true halls of justice. Perhaps even yet the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies will have mercy on the remnant of his people.

Matthew Henry writes – “The scope of this chapter is to prosecute the exhortation given to Israel in the close of the foregoing chapter to prepare to meet their God; the prophet here tells them What preparation they must make; they must "seek the Lord,’’ and not seek any more to idols;  they must seek good, and love it.” Here in these verses there was a benefit to following this decree in that perhaps God would have mercy seeing the change in the lives.

 

In Spanish, it's called el camino de la muerte, which translated into English means "road of death." In 1995, the Inter-American Development Bank called it the "world's most dangerous road."

Found in Bolivia, this dirt and rock route stretches 38 to 43 miles, depending on the source, and descends from La Paz (at 12,000 feet) down to the beautiful rain forest town of Coroico at the edge of the basin of the Amazon River.

Why so dangerous? An average of 26 vehicles fall off this road each year; and 200 to 300 people lose their lives on it annually. Steep hillsides, cliffs, and drop-offs with no guardrails present hazards, and the road in places has room for only one vehicle. Rain and fog complicate the trip, along with muddy surfaces and loose rocks sliding down hillsides. On July 24, 1983, over 100 passengers were killed when a bus veered over the edge and crashed into a canyon.

But, despite the danger, the road has become an increasingly popular tourist attraction since the early 1990s. [Graham Gori, "Thrills on the Highway of Death," Associated Press (11-24-02)]

You would think that knowing a road is called “road of death” and it’s the most dangerous road in the world killing 200-300 people a year that people would shy away from such a road. Still people are actually taking bike tours down the dangerous path. To quote on person leaving a comment on a trip site, “We had no hesitation in signing up for the Death Road, it sounded like an adventure not to be missed.” Another said, “Death Road is not for the faint of heart, and not for people who don't already feel comfortable on bikes.” Yet there is still a thrill an attraction to participate in this danger.

Let me tell you friend there are people every day participating in things that attract and may even thrill for the moment, but that lead to disaster in the end. Here I am talking about following the road of sin. Sin can destroy a person’s life. Sin can destroy relationships. Sin can even kill. Yet people are attracted to sin and follow it despite the danger. Let this be a warning that we should hate the sin that faces us enough to protect our lives, relationships, and loved ones. We should love the Lord our God who watches over us and protects us and instead follow His road of goodness.

The prophet Amos warned the people and many did not listen. Don’t be like one of those who didn’t listen to God’s warnings about sin. Decide today that you will commit your life to The Lord. There is a road that leads to death, but there is also a road that leads to life with Jesus Christ our Lord. Which road are you on?