Choices

Most of us have taken vacation trips which took us several miles away from home.  By several, I am referring to over 200 miles.  We don’t give it much thought, but this country is crossed with interstate highways that can take us pretty much to whatever destination we choose, or at least close to the destination.  And, if you are like me, I am sure when you head out on your trip you have it mapped out and know exactly what route you will take.  Most of us will route our trip to take whatever interstate highways are available to get us to our destination.  Why?

The interstate highways afford the highest speed limits without the aggravation of traffic lights and “small town” speed limits to deal with.  This means that we can reach our destination much quicker, therefore allowing us to begin our relaxing vacation much sooner.  At least that is the train of thought most of us follow when planning the trip.  In other words, in our minds, our vacation is the destination – not the trip.

What if you changed your planned route?  What if you took “side roads” instead of the interstate highways?  Your answer, like most people, would be that it would take longer, be more aggravating, and delay you reaching your destination, thereby delaying the start of your vacation.  You would have to deal with lower speed limits.  You would have to deal with even lower speed limits through all those little towns along the way.  You would have to deal with traffic lights and stop signs.  In short, it would delay your vacation.

In reality, we might want to try this sometime.  What might you be able to see in those small towns that you are missing?  What wonderful sights might be along those side roads that you will miss?  Might you be able to stop and lunch at a small town café, among very friendly residents, instead of running through the drive through of a fast food place at an interstate exit?  Could it be that the trip itself might be an enjoyable part of the vacation?

In Matthew 7: 13-14 (NKJV), we are told, ¹³ “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. ¹⁴ Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

In the NLT version this is stated as:  ¹³ “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. ¹⁴ But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.”

Think of this in the context of taking a trip that we talked about above.  Yes, we have the freedom to choose the route we take.  Yes, our human nature is to take the interstate route because it is easier and faster.  Yes, it is our right to choose between the two.

Matthew 7 13-14 is telling us that the route to eternal destruction is the equivalent to the interstate route.  It is the easy way, the popular way and the route the majority of people may choose.  But the route to heaven is like the side road.  It is not as convenient, it is a slower route, there are more obstacles to deal with, it is more difficult, and it the less chosen route. 

But our eternal vacation is our final destination.  While the side road, the narrow way, may have more obstacles, it is more fulfilling and ultimately gets us to our desired destination.  Just as we may miss wonderful sights and other delights by not taking the side roads on our vacation trip, we may miss wonderful opportunities, blessings and delights in our life by not taking God’s narrow path. 

Jesus makes it clear in these verses in Matthew that the interstate route may be convenient, but it will not take us to eternal rest with God in Heaven.  So, as for me, I will take the side roads!