I have always loved Robert Frost’s poem “The Road Less Traveled” in which
he describes a choice he had to make. Before him were two paths, and he knew
that he could not travel them both; in fact, he realized that “knowing how way
leads onto way I doubted if I should ever come back.” Frost chose the road less
traveled, and he was so glad that he did because as he reported, “And I took
the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”
Jesus talked about two roads, "Enter through the narrow gate. For
wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many
enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life,
and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).
On the wide road that Jesus described, the traveler seems to be able to
travel with any belief he wants. This road invites travelers because it is wide
and not restrictive. Certainly the great number of travelers makes one feel
that they are on the right road. What is incredibly ironic about this road is
that it leads to destruction, but people don’t know it and don’t believe it.
The second road is narrow, and not many people travel this road. This
road is a defined belief or a specific world view that Jesus is the savior of
the world. Isn’t it ironic that of most founders of religions, the one who is
most used in profanity is Christ? Rarely do you ever hear Mohammed or Buddha
cursed. Why is there such contempt for Christ? Why is there such intolerance
toward Christianity? Why is the Bible looked upon with scorn and ridicule while
the Koran or the Hindu scriptures are held in awe? Richard Dawkins, a
proclaimed atheist and proponent of evolution, claims that a Christian
education for children constitutes child abuse.[i]
This intolerance comes because the Bible presents a narrow view, and the Bible
insists that if you want to be a Christian, you must embrace this narrow way.
Today our politically correct culture holds contempt for the narrow
minded person. They are branded as bigots, extremists and racists. The very
idea of believing that you are right is utterly offensive. It’s outrageous that
anyone believes in such a thing as biblical morality, moral restraint, good and
evil, and God forbid—an idea called sin. The very notion that you pretend to
know the truth for everyone is unacceptable, and yet this is what Jesus says is
necessary if you want the right road. No doubt about it, this road that Jesus
insists we take if we want his company is not the wide and broad road but the
narrow road. Jesus is this road, as he made it very clear in these words, "I
am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except
through me” (John 14:6).
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