I’m not sure if there was any of the original road surface left and yet it was paved. For over a half a mile we drove over patch upon patch upon patch. Actually I should reword that sentence and exchange the word “drove” with the word “bounced.” I wondered how many years and how many road crews it took to create such a wonder. Since there didn’t seem to be any habitation along that stretch I figured it would be a long time before the State of New Hampshire would give up and repave.
I was reminded of socks and blue jeans when I was a boy. My mom was a great patcher. And indeed I do recall patches on patches. Today my students come toclass with holes in their jeans and they maintain the jeans are brand new. Humm? What company is going to the Salvation Army and repackaging old pants? They must be laughing all the way to the bank at our gullibility.
Obviously Jesus knew about patching. In Matthew 9:16 He said, “No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse.” He was referring to the need to replace the old system with a new one. Putting patches on the old way of earning heaven wasn’t going to work. Grace was about to take the place of obedience. This is not to say obedience isn’t important. Obedience is the key to an abundant life because His laws are based on His wisdom. To disobey is to ask for trouble.
But all of us have sinned and come short. The only way salvation will ever work is if it is totally replaced with grace. The road to heaven was repaved.
Written by Roger Bothwell on May 2, 2010
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org