The Road Less Travelled By

“The Road Less Travelled By” written by Robert Frost is one of my favorite poems. I especially love the last three lines:

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.”

I wonder why in the poem the less travelled road made all the difference to the person. I suppose the answer is irrelevant. I suppose the point is that being the road less travelled there was something present that the road had to offer the traveler—something good.

Following Jesus is like that.  Being a disciple of Jesus makes an eternal  difference in our lives as it is the road less travelled by—even in today’s world of relativism and intolerance (in spite of all the vocalized views for tolerance).

Jesus said,

“Go in through the narrow gate. The gate that leads to destruction is broad and the road wide, so many people enter through it. But the gate that leads to life is narrow and the road difficult, so few people find it.” Matthew 7:13-14 CEB

But we are able to find the gate/road to eternal life.  It’s not a hopeless pursuit. 

There was a time in my life as a younger Christian when I wanted to give up being a Christian--not because I no longer believed God existed or that Jesus was no longer my Savior. I was worn out. I was tired. Tired of struggling with sin. Tired of wrestling with myself and Satan. Tired of watching people fight. And I thought that if I gave up, then I wouldn't have to wrestle anymore. Life would be easier. 

But I knew I was wrong in my so called logic. And I knew that I was struggling with following Satan's lies--the easy road. 

Jesus also said,

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  --John 14:1-6 NIV

I knew that if I gave up on God, what that consequence would be. That, and Ed Wharton's class on Christian evidences was very convicting for me to remain faithful. Life with God is far better than a life without Him--in this world and in the next. And so Jesus is that gate through which we must pass. 

And so for Christians, following Jesus is the road less traveled. God gave us grace through Jesus. He took a hard road to bring us eternal life. I don't imagine it was easy for Jesus. He was tempted, and yet was without sin. He probably wrestled with His humanity. He fought Satan. He watched people fight. And yet He endured because He knew what He was going through was worth it to save us. And He knew that life with God was far better than a life without Him. And for us. So Jesus understands how rough life it at times. 

And so He died for us. I don't know of any other "god" that has done that for people. 

Jesus took the road less travelled by--and that has made all the eternal difference. 

-Jewel Melton

AIM 2002, Croatia