The Crossroads
The journey of life has two roads and two destinations. The choice and decision of which road to take is yours.
As a child, you walk for a while on the road of innocence, and then you come to a crossroads. The road of childhood and innocence ends, and you discover two distinct roads. As you come to this crossroads, you must make a decision. Which road shall I take? This decision is very important. It is the most important decision in life because one road leads to heaven, and the other road leads to hell. “Choose you this day whom ye will serve” (Joshua 24:15).
How will you know when you come to this crossroads? There is no set rule or age. Some children reach the crossroads earlier in life than others. Perhaps the crossroads is not reached until the person is exposed to the gospel or made aware of a better way. It may be a new awareness of right and wrong or a gentle tug to follow the Lord. These are indications of the crossroads. God is a loving God, and he makes known the two ways regardless of country or culture.
As you stand at the crossroads, what do you see? Take a good look at the two roads. You will see that one road is wide and apparently smooth and easy to travel. The other road is narrow. It requires saying no to sin. The wide road has many people walking on it, while the narrow road has only a few. Jesus said, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).
The Wide Road
Are you confused or not sure about which road to take? If you step closer to the wide, well-traveled road, you will hear Satan, the master of this road, asking you to walk with him. Satan’s story sounds very enticing. Along his road he offers many friends, and everyone seems to be quite happy. The entertainments along this road are many. There are drinking, dancing, parties, and many other types of amusement.
People beginning to walk this road may have good intentions. Many are even able to refrain from the pitfalls for a time. However, all too often their morals and good standards begin to suffer. Lying, stealing, and cheating can become common practices. It seems you can pick your style of life on this road and call it freedom. It appears that you can refrain from (or indulge deeply in) certain sins. You are taken along this road so rapidly that you are hardly aware of time running out. Some people on this road are overcome by many troubles, and they see no way out. Too often despair, drugs, murder, or suicide are the result. The Bible says, “The way of transgressors is hard” (Proverbs 13:15).
Is this what you want in life? Is this the road you want to travel? Did you notice that Satan never mentioned the final result of traveling his road? He would not dare—he would betray himself. He is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10). The result of walking the broad road is hell, the lake of fire that never goes out. This place was made for the devil and his angels. There will be weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth forever. Are you going to walk with him and share his fate? Even if you are now traveling on the wide road, today is the day to choose the narrow road.
The Narrow Road
Take a closer look at the narrow road. This road is for everyone who sincerely seeks it—no one is turned away. Jesus wants to be your Savior and personal guide. He asks you to repent of your sins, surrender your will, and trust in him. He says, “Learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:29-30).
Jesus is the kind shepherd (Psalm 23). He loves you so much that he will walk right beside you on the narrow road. As he teaches you his ways, you will find joy in following Him. When the path seems dark and difficult, He will take hold of your hand and lead you until you can see more clearly. Sometimes when you get very weary or the path is dangerous, the Shepherd will take you in his arms and carry you. Soon you will have strength to walk again. “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young” (Isaiah 40:11). With other Christians, you will find love, care, and support as you walk the narrow road.
The Choice
These two roads, the wide one and the narrow one, both end when life is over. Then comes the judgment. God will judge everyone’s life by the road he has traveled. “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).
On that final day those people traveling the wide road with Satan as their master will face God in judgment. “And they were judged every man according to their works” (Revelation 20:13). “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41).
The people traveling on the narrow road will also face God in judgment. “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34). To be at home in heaven with Jesus in that beautiful place—no words can describe it! “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2).
Which road will you choose? It means either heaven or hell for you throughout eternity. Choose the narrow road, and ask Jesus to help you. “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19).