Ronald Stringer
05/04/09
I want to personally invite you to join me on a journey. I have been traveling on this trip for some time now and I want to have as much company as possible. You see, there are not many people who are taking the same route that I am. There are only two ways to get to the end of the journey that I am traveling on…a wide road and a narrow road (Matthew 7:13-14). I must warn you that most people choose to take the wide road but I am not traveling with them. I have chosen to take the narrow road. I will give you a description of these two roads so you can decide which one you want to travel. I do hope that you will come along with me.
The first road is the wide one that is filled with all kinds of excitement. There are many people that are taking this route and they all like to entertain themselves in many different ways. These people do not care what anyone thinks about them as long as they can have a good time. Along this road you will find ways to quench every earthly desire imaginable. The following is a list of them: "fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry" (Colossians 3:5b).
However, you will also have to deal with people who like to participate in anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language, and even lying (Colossians 3:8-9). This is not bad, though, because you are more than welcome to participate with them. For example, if someone lies to you then you have every right to lie to them. On this wide road, anything goes.
The second road is the narrow one on which I am traveling. This road is difficult and is filled with the temptations of the wide road. Whoever travels this route must carry with them tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, and forgiveness (Colossians 3:12-13). If anyone fails to carry one of these items and succumbs to the temptations of the wide path, then he or she is forced to travel the wide road. He or she can, however, "jump back over" if they decide to once again do what is commanded. This road is difficult but it is very rewarding because all of your traveling companions want to do what is right.
So, which road will you take on this trip? The fact is that you have already begun the journey…the journey of life. From the descriptions above, it appears that the wide road would be the best road to take. But the only way that we can determine the best route is to discover what the destination is. The problem with the wide path is that it ends in eternal damnation. People who take this road will burn in a lake of fire and brimstone (Revelation 21:8). The narrow road, the route that I am taking, ends in eternal life. Please, come with me!