Updated - Does It Matter Which Road?

(Almost two years ago, I started this blog with a working title of "Less Traveled" based on two sources - Robert Frost's poem "The Road Not Taken" and the words of Jesus found in Matthew 7:13-14 about the difference in the two roads we can choose to follow in our lives. The following article was the third post written on the site http://www.lesstraveled.blog. This week seems like a good time to update and repost that particular article.)

Yogi Berra is a Hall of Fame baseball catcher who played for the New York Yankees during some of their dominating times in the 1950s. He was a good catcher and hit home runs. However, today most younger people who know his name think of some of the strange things he said. You can even buy books or find listings online of some of his quips. One of my favorites and that ties well to this site is "When you come to a fork in the road, take it."

While you think through that quote, ask yourself - when there is a fork in the road, aren't there at least two choices - left or right; wide or narrow; or even crowded or sparse? While Berra didn't say which one to take, you and I must always be making decisions about which one is the best choice. And remember, our choices and decisions are rarely about roads we drive on or even walk on. Our most numerous decisions relate to the roads or paths in life where we live.

With that in mind, does it make a difference which path or road we choose? It only takes a single reading of Matthew 7:13-14 to be confronted with the tremendous difference as to which life path we choose.

"Enter through the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

There are three things about each road that is mentioned in these two verses. First, one is wide or broad while the other is small or narrow. That would be enough information in some decisions for a person to make a choice. One looks more enticing because of its size and appearance. Is that the basis you use in making life decisions?

Second, the broad road has a greater number of people who have chosen that road, but the narrow road is sparsely populated. Do you make life choices based on the majority opinion or on which crowd has the most influence or sheer numbers?

The third element is really the most important but often the most frequently overlooked. The attractive, wide, highly populated road leads to destruction. The narrow, small, sparsely populated road leads to life. How often do your decisions involve the long look to see where that decision will take you? Do you like the end result?

When Jesus spoke these words, He specifically was referencing our choice to either follow our own path in life or choose to put our faith in Him and follow His chosen path. Our own path leads to eternal destruction, also referred to as Hell. Following Jesus and trusting in Him leads to an eternity in Heaven.

While I believe that we must consider where all choices and decisions eventually lead, the most important choice or decision we will ever make is whether we choose Jesus or ourselves as our path to eternity. Both lead to an eternal existence but the conditions are far different - a life with God or a life totally separated from Him. I believe it matters greatly which road you choose.

This week, we will all make many decisions, some of which will have eternal consequences. Consider carefully which path you want for your life today and for eternity. Where does your choice lead? I pray that we all might choose the path that puts us on a way of life that is based on faith in Jesus and leads us to God's eternal presence.