Two roads

Dear Readers...it's been a busy few days of late having been gone to Kansas for a wedding and back in time to be present with a family as one had surgery. Should be back in the saddle now!

       Robert Frost's poem "The Road Not Taken" is universally recognized as a classic. Most people can quote at least a portion of it, or at least has some idea of the gist of the idea behind it.
           It speaks of decisions and destinies and how that such decisions lead us to that which lies beyond our present situations.
           Both the Lord Jesus and the prophet Jeremiah spoke of our destinies being determined by which 'road' we choose.  In Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus speaks to the Broad way and the Narrow way. Both ways are entered through gates which are similarly described as 'straight' and 'narrow'.
        Two destinies are also set before us, the one leading to life and the other to destruction. Two companies are described as the 'many' and the 'few'. That there is a choice to be made is obvious.  Encouragement is given to 'enter in at the straight gate' for, though the way be narrow, the destination is life. A warning of destruction lies before those who might choose the wide gate and the broad way.
        Two contrasting trails, two destinations, but only one choice.
      The prophet Jeremiah likewise, spoke of two ways (Jeremiah 6:16) and urged his hearers and us, his readers, to consider carefully the 'old paths' and the 'good way' leading to rest. This old path was tried and proven to have been the best way. Sadly, the context of Jeremiah's passage tells us that those who heard his message replied, "we will not".  What is even more sad is that these people were experiencing the beginnings of the judgments being brought upon them by their sins, and in spite of warnings and offerings of forgiveness, they would persist in their own ways.
         Choices are not always easy, for we do not always know what lies ahead, but wisdom dictates that we must use as much information available to us as possible. When one makes decisions in spite of the information, he has no one to blame but himself for the consequences.
        God's Word is filled with advice, guidelines, warnings, directions and directives. We ignore them at our own peril.  Deut 30:19 records Moses' warning to the children of Israel just before they entered the Promised Land, it reads...
" I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:" KJV This should not be seen as a threat, but an offer of life and hope.
             Perhaps the most well known verse of all is John 3:16, which offers God's gift of salvation to 'whosoever will...'  Not as well known are the couple of verses that follow...John 3:18
 "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."KJV
       Two opportunities, one is to believe, the other is not to believe. What one decides determines his eternal destiny.
         Ps 145:18 reminds us that...
"The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth." And Paul wrote in Romans 10:13 "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." KJV
    Your choice determines your destiny.
Jesse B. Pounds along with Charles H. Gabriel wrote the words and music to "The Way of the Cross Leads Home", and indeed, it does! Take a few moments to sing this old familiar hymn today.