Two Roads of Life
The Wide Road
The world’s messages appeal to all of us because they speak the language of our sinful nature. We have hearts that default to discontentment. We seek pleasure in the things we consume with our senses. We grab for status and power. We crave what is safe, comfortable, and easy.
This life promises us everything, but leaves us with anxiety, despair, addiction, loneliness, longing, and regret. It is the wide road that leads to destruction and many people are walking it.
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. – Matthew 7:13
The Narrow Road
Jesus offers a different path, one that is radically different.
It comes with an invitation: Take up your cross and follow me. Lay down your desires and seek mine. Build my kingdom, not your own. Glorify me and humble yourself. Go to the tough places and I will be with you.
This life demands that we give up our own. Yet in doing so, we discover a true life marked by hope, joy, peace, contentment, love, and value.
For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. – Matthew 16:25
But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. – Matthew 7:14
Which Road are You Walking?
The Bible is clear. There is no middle road. We either love the world and are walking the wide road or we love God and are following Him on the narrow road. Let’s humbly examine our lives to see the road we are on.
The Wide Road Lifestyle
It looks like a life lived for God on Sunday, but me, myself, and I, Monday to Saturday.
It looks like a life focused on the here and now, instead of one lived for eternity.
It looks like a life with no fight—no fight to serve, no fight to share Jesus, no fight to overcome sin.
It looks like a life fed by the world, but disconnected from God, the Bible, and prayer.
It looks like a life that is accepted by the world, one free from rejection and persecution.
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. – 1 John 2:15-16
If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. – John 15:18-19
The Narrow Road Lifestyle
It looks like a life reborn, where our fleshly desires have been put to death and we now live for God by the Spirit.
It looks like a life running for the finish line where we use our time, energy, and possessions to complete the work God sent us to do.
It looks like a life of overflow, where God has filled us up so much through His Word that our hope, joy, love, peace, and faith all pour out into the lives of others.
It looks like a life of battling—taking captive every sinful thought, resisting temptation, striking with the sword of God’s Word.
It looks like a life that shines light into darkness, so the world hates us.
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. – Galatians 5:24-25
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. – Colossians 3:1-3
A Fork in the Road
Throughout Jesus’ ministry, people from all walks of life were confronted by the hard truths He spoke boldly and directly into their lives. Some people heard, repented, and followed Him. Others turned away sad or angry, suppressing the truth because they loved the world.
We are at a fork in the road. It is time for us to examine our lives in light of these biblical truths.
As parents, we understand that our children follow us. The life we model—disciple—is the one that the majority of them will pursue. The statistic that over 60% of young people that grow up in the Christian Church are leaving it by adulthood has much to say about the road many parents are actually walking.
Let’s start by humbly repenting for trying to walk a middle road where we have Jesus for salvation, but are holding on to the desires of our sinful flesh. Let’s acknowledge to God how we have shown our children the wrong way to live. Then, let’s ask God to strengthen and equip us so we can rise up today.
Jesus has called us to follow Him on the path to true life. The next generation—our kids—are counting on us to show them the way! If you are ready to rise up, then let’s continue on by looking at the adventure of following God.