Roads play an important part in the history of the world. The Romans are known for establishing roads that conversed their entire kingdom and allowed them to quickly move from one place to another gaining military and economical advantage. Billions of dollars are spent each year on maintaining the roads in America and around the world to keep each country a viable force in the fast paced world of commerce. Anyone who has ever read the western genre for any amount of time is most likely familiar with the phrase "The road less travelled." This struck me yesterday on my way to church. Let me paint you a picture.
It was early night, the sun had retreated and dusk settled in for her fifteen hours. The night was silent, only an occasional owl could be heard across the expanse of country side. Mother's had diligently tucked their children in and fathers had completed the obligatory bedtime story. I drove a straight road that night headed towards a rendezvous with destiny. It was one of those moments when one could really hear themselves think and that little voice was doing a mighty bit of yappin'.
The headlights on my truck did little to break the eriee blank canvas of night giving me only a 10 or 15 foot lead. At the corner of Waterman and Sheldon I made a right and drove on just another brush stroke on that dark canvas. The road seemed to stretch on before me like a concrete ribbon with no end. In my monotony I glanced across the acres that separated my current position from the destination of my travels, 8520 Bradshaw road.
Lights illuminating the church building gave it an angelic glow filling up the empty space that must have stood there for thousands of years before it was built. Like a beacon of hope to a weary traveller I was comforted by this sight, but my heart longed for my trip to be over at that moment. I reached for the four wheeler button in my old ford and thought about how easy it would be to rip through the farmers fields and cut my travel time in half if I just left that road. Before acting on my impulse I took a moment more to look across the divide and what had previously been invisible to me in those fields came to light.
Miles of metal fencing, meticulously lined, stretched along the circumference of those fields. A deep gouge rutted out by a meandering stream ran down the middle and imposing trees cut down years ago had left stumps and turned up ground. The way was not as easy as it had initially seemed. What had been a good idea previously now was a daunting task that I knew I could not come out of in one piece. So I set back and while it took me a little longer I got to my place of rest, joyful for my safe passage.
Life is a lot like that trip I took last night. Jesus said "Because strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life and few there be that find." (Mat 7:14) and "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (Jhn 14:6)
Many times on the long road of life we start to get weary. We see the end across the miles and think if I could just skip all this it's right there. It looks so easy to just cut a corner here and there but in the murky darkness we miss the impediments and dangers that scatter the valley. We may think that we have the equipment to do a little off-roading but even with the limited tools we may think we have we could never make it to the other side of the field. We would be broken battered and left bogged down in the mire of this world with no way out.
The only way to the end of this journey safely is to stay the course. set your eyes on the prize and make it to the end. The only road to travel in the journey of life is Jesus Christ all other ways lead to destruction. From the statement above in John 4 Jesus is speaking with His disciples and says "If ye had known me, ye should have known the Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him." In His most open talk with them about the life to come and the way to salvation Christ emphasis' He is the Father and One and The end is the Father's (Jesus' as we have established) House (Heaven) there are many mansions (places for dwelling) in it.
In my opinion the strongest Bible Study verses are in John 4 try to study that chapter and teach someone about how to get back on the road to life today! God Bless.
No comments:
Post a Comment