Life is full of choices to make. There are things that everyone must choose to do or not to do (Joshua 24:15), places to decide to go or not to go (Genesis 13:8-12), people to acquaint yourself with (Romans 16:1-15) or to ignore (Romans 16:17; 2 John 1:10-I 1). All sorts of choices, and many of them are difficult. The Lord spoke of a choice man has to make in Matthew 7:13-14, "Enter in 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. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few that find it."

Picture yourself at an intersection of two roads, one well-paved, easy to navigate, relatively straight with few hills to climb; several lanes for driving. The other, a two-lane road with potholes, no shoulders, curvy and very hilly, so your ability to see at a distance is limited. Which would you choose? Most folks are going to take the first road because of the ease of navigation. Why would one willingly go down the second road with all of its difficulties and pitfalls?

The same two choices are faced in the spiritual roadway of life. It is easy to do the things of this world and go down that "easy road". One will meet little or no resistance if he or she goes along with what everyone else is doing. The cruise control can be set, the seat leaned back, the air conditioner cranked up, the stereo on your favorite radio station, and no cares to run through your mind about anything getting in your way. There is no such thing as "peer pressure" on this road, because whatever carnal activities society dictates, the one who takes this road will likely engage in them as well (1 Corinthians 3:3-4).

The other choice, however, is not as easy. It is a difficult road or way. The "way of righteousness" and following the teaching of God's word (Proverbs 12:28; Psalm 1:1-2). It is indeed "the road less traveled" (there are "few who find it" - Matthew 7:14). For the most part, people do not wish to be different from the rest of the world. It's a difficult thing to "go against the grain" and be one of those "peculiar" people who try to live a life pleasing to God (1 Peter 2:9). When one chooses to take the road less traveled, often times people of the world think them to be strange because of the stand it requires (1 Peter 4:4). The excesses of those on the easier road are repulsive to those on the difficult road, yet the disciplined life of those traveling the difficult road seems silly to those on the other roadway (1 Corinthians 9:27; Acts 17:18; 1 Peter 4:4).

These two roads have crossovers. There is tremendous pressure on those who take the difficult road or way to leave it and cross over to the easier way. One can go from the easy road to the difficult road through obedience to God's will (Matthew 7:21) and trying to live a life faithful to Him (Revelation 2:10). Most do not cross over to this way. However, many cross over from the difficult road to the easy road. Perhaps the road less traveled gets too difficult for them, or like Demas they "love this present world" (2 Timothy 4:10). They see that it is much easier to blend with the flow of traffic on the easier road and choose to take it. What we must do is consider the end of the two roads. The less traveled road leads to the right destination - eternal life (Matthew 7:14), the well traveled road leads to a "dead end" - a destination of destruction (Matthew 7:13). Which road will you choose?

Eric