Life's Highway

THE BROAD AND THE NARROW WAY
by [F. B. Meyer]

Matthew 7:13 Go in through the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many there are who go in through it.
Matthew 7:14 Because narrow is the gate and constricted is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

I am always amazed as I look back on the paths that I chose in my 66+ years that I have been blessed to be on this earth. Yes, paths, for I have switched directions in the latter years. Though like many, some decisions I probably would want to take back but I chose the paths as F. B. Meyers describes in this devotional. I am amazed for the good Lord lets us decide. Also once we do it is up to us if we want to stay on that path.

[AT THE beginning of life, each soul stands before these two paths. In each of us the love of life is strong, and in each is the desire to get as much as possible out of the years which may be given. Amiel expresses this strong passion for life when he says: "A passionate wish to live, to feel, to express, stirred the depth of my heart. I was overpowered by a host of aspirations. In such a mood one would fain devour the whole world, experience everything, see everything, learn everything, tame everything, and conquer everything."

In our early years each of us wakes up to the throb of strong natural impulses, and we are tempted to argue, if God has given me these strong desires, why should they not be gratified? Why should I not throw the reins on the necks of these fiery steeds, and let them bear me whither they may? To do this, is to go through the wide gate, and to take the broad road. It is the way of society, of the majority--the "many" go in there, It is pre-eminently the way of the world, and no one who goes by this way, allowing his course to be dictated by strong natural impulses, need fear that he will be counted strange or eccentric!

It must be admitted that, in its first stages, the broad way is generally easy and rather delightful. The boat launched on the flowing stream sweeps merrily and pleasantly along the gradient of the road slopes so as to make walking easy, the sun shines, and the path is filled with bright flowers. But to a life given up to self-indulgence, there is only one end, destruction.

There is a more excellent way, but it is too narrow to admit the trailing garments of passionate desire, too narrow for pride, self-indulgence, greed, and avarice, it is the Way of the Cross, but it leads to Life! We all want to see life, and the remarkable thing is that those who expect to get most out of it by self-indulgence miss everything; whilst those who seem to curtail their lives by following Christ, win everything. Few find and enter this path, is the lament of our Lord. Let us put our hand in His, that He may lead us into the path of life, "that shineth more and more unto the perfect day."

PRAYER
Dear Lord, as Enoch walked with Thee of old, so would we walk each day, choosing the narrow path; order our steps in Thy way, and graciously walk with us. AMEN.]

Praise God, I am now on the narrow path of life, a life with Him. What is most interesting is that many in my life are still walking the wider path. every now and then we kind of meet at the cross walk, but I choose to go in the direction with my Savior. Though my heart cries out for those on "destruction highway" to join me on the path of light, they must choose their life's path. All I can do is show by my example that Jesus is "the way, the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Him!" (John 14:6)

From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott