THE ROAD TO EMMAUS

1. THE ROAD TO EMMAUS pricks our conscience ever the more as prophecy is daily fulfilled in readiness for the appearance of Jesus Christ. We are as Cleopas and his mate, well versed in signs and events pertaining to our time, “And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?” [Luke 24:18] We may never know why the two men left Jerusalem and the company of disciples on such a day to visit Emmaus; the day Jesus rose from the dead! However, they did and a day of JOY, the fulfilment of the HOPE of many generations was turned to a season of sadness and confusion, “And he said unto them, WHAT MANNER OF COMMUNICATION ARE THESE that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are SAD?” [Luke 24:17] Alas,THE ROAD TO EMMAUS is once more filled with stragglers; disciples retreating from FAITH into despair and confusion as the BEAST bares his fangs. And for the last time, the Lord is back on the road, “Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through MUCH TRIBULATION ENTER into the KINGDOM of God” [Acts 14:22]
2.THE ROAD TO EMMAUS beckons when Bible prophecy is entrusted to personal interpretation, “Knowing this first, that NO PROPHECY of the scripture is of any PRIVATE INTERPRETATION” [2 Peter 1:20] It is a road paved with apprehension, the disciples had “TRUSTED” that Jesus would overthrow the Roman occupation and “REDEEM” the honour of God’s people but were disappointed, “But WE TRUSTED that it had been he which should have REDEEMED ISRAEL: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done” [Luke 24:21] Israel was not ignorant of promise of the Messiah, the people were led astray by their religious leaders who interpreted prophecy through prisms of selfishness. They provoked unbelief in the people, so much so, disciples who had walked and dined with Jesus, and heard Him speak severally of His resurrection were trapped in doubts, “Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;  And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive” [Luke 24:22-23] The similarities are uncanny, it is not hard to see religious leaders distorting the promise of our inheritance in Christ for gain, “And many shall follow their PERNICIOUS WAYS; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through COVETOUSNESS shall they with feigned words MAKE MERCHANDISE OF YOU … their damnation slumbereth not” [2 Peter 2:2-3]
3. THE ROAD TO EMMAUS is crowded with otherwise good folks, men such as Cleopas and his fellow disciple, brethren who in sane times trusted in Scriptures pertaining to Christ but these are not normal times. Listen carefully, the same Scriptures that assured us of Christ’s imminent appearance also warned of a perilous season preceding our translation, “MEN’S HEARTS FAILING THEM FOR FEAR, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the SON OF MAN COMING in a cloud with power and great glory” [Luke 21:26-27] It is true the times are tough perhaps tougher than we expected, add to that unfulfilled expectations and not a few are driven by doubts to EMMAUS. It is a shame to see charlatans busy cashing in on palpable misery to draw men to EMMAUS with lies in the name of the Lord, “Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and DESTITUTE OF THE TRUTH, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself” [1 Timothy 6:5] Are we now greater than Jesus and His Apostles who endured tribulation of their days without breaking ranks? It is enough the disciple is as his Master; Jesus said to Cleopas and his mate, and indeed all of us, “Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have SUFFERED THESE THINGS, and to ENTER TO GLORY?” [Luke 24:25-26]
4. THE ROAD TO EMMAUS is not for you; Jesus loves you and remembers your fervent beginning in FAITH, “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast LEFT THY FIRST LOVE. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and REPENT, and DO THE FIRST WORKS, else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou REPENT” [Revelation 2:4-5] What Jesus said to one, He says to all; let us remember how we once trusted in every word in the Bible not doubting and in all things acknowledged His WISDOM. Can we say the same today? How soon our eyes were blinded by stale “BREAD” leavened with vanities of hypocrisy, “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and ANOINT THINE EYES with EYESALVE, that THOU MAYEST SEE” [Revelation 3:18] Let us remember how we jumped to interpret  every global event to suit our arrogance, wrongly dividing the word of truth. Today, Jesus is at the door, if we will reconsider and allow Him in, He will rightly break the LIVING BREAD; open our eyes and restore our strength to return to Him, “… he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their EYES WERE OPENED, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. And they ROSE UP THE SAME HOUR, and RETURNED TO JERUSALEM,  …” [Luke 24:30-31,33] Are you born again?