I was recently reminded of the Robert Frost poem, The Road Not Taken, which begins, “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and sorry I could not travel both…” and ends with the famous line, “I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” In his poem, Frost lays out the argument that he can take only one of the two paths laid out before him. He imagines the possibility of taking the other path another day, but realizes that it is unlikely he will ever be back this way again. The choice he makes today, and the path he chooses, will make all the difference in his life.
Is it any different for us today? Do we realize that every day we make choices that lead us down one path or another? Have you stopped recently to look around and see where the path you are on is headed? Will you, like Frost’s character, get to the end of your life and be glad for the choices you have made and the paths you have taken? Or will you realize that the path you are on has led to destruction?
In Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus reminded his disciples that there are really only two paths in life. Every day we choose a broad or a small gate. The broad gate is wide and its path is well-traveled, but it leads to destruction. The small gate is narrow and the way is more difficult; few go in by it. As it turns out, it is the narrow path that leads to life. Those who would be God’s children will choose the small gate – a road less traveled, a narrow path. It doesn’t mean they will be perfect, and it certainly doesn’t mean they never stray from the path. Nevertheless, choices must be made. Will you decide to follow Jesus’ path? It is a narrow road, a difficult path with a small gate. But for those who choose it, it will make all the difference.
