Life at the Crossroads

It has been said that "All life concentrates on man at the crossroads". What does that mean? Life is full of choices. Daily, hourly, moment by moment. In every situation we have a choice to make.

Jesus began the Sermon on the Mount with amazing tenderness,embracing with His blessings those who felt least embraceable. In matthew 7:13-14 He balances it with tough realities. God's Word not only comforts but challenges and corrects as well. Jesus puts clear choices before us: two gates (Jesus or self), two roads (suffering in Christ, or self-focused life), two crowds (the many wayward or focused few), and two destinations (heaven or hell, life or death).

Our choices are based on certain assumptions about God, others and ourselves as well as commitments God has made to keep His promises. Ultimately, we cannot really make any choice without God, who gives and sustains life. We are to choose, remembering that God is sovereign over all and He is in control, that His choices drive ours. That "it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs but on God who has mercy" (Rom. 9:14-19). And at the same time God wants us to choose daily, hour by hour, moment by moment. I rest content unknowing what only the all-knowing One knows fully. Hard to figure out but He is big enough to handle that quandary. We choose and God is sovereign. Our choices never trump His. His choice comes first.

Going in God's way necessitates a desire to go the way God directs. Like Abram being called by God to leave his homeland and go to the land God would show him (Genesis 12:1-4). Abram got up and went at God's call. He was called by God and he decided to follow. His desire drove His direction. God in grace called him and enabled him and he followed by faith. The choices we make reveal our desire and determine our direction. We are to "ask for the ancient paths" (Jer. 6:16); to "ask and it shall be given" (Matt. 7:7). The "path of the upright leads to life" (Prov. 15:19); the "path of life" (Ps. 16:11); is lighted by God's Word, "a light to our path" (Ps. 119:105). God desires movement on our part, in His direction.

Sticking to the narrow way means standing firm in the midst of suffering. The road marked by suffering is one that Job experienced, and in all of it he did not sin with his lips or deny God, he was tried and tested and came forth as gold refined by fire. God's ways are best; they are from of old - they are proven, they are tested, they have proved to be good. Everyone who has ever followed has done so in His strength, by His enabling, for His glory.

All who come to faith in Christ have "passed out of death into life" (John 5:24; 1 John 3:14); to be nourished by the "Bread of Life" (John 6:35); "called out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Pet. 2:9-10); called to "walk in newness of life" (Rom. 6:4); in "Christ who is our life" (Col. 3:4); to persevere and one day receive the "crown of life" (James 1:12). Jesus tasted death for us that we might have life (Heb. 2:9). Therefore the second death has no power over us (Rev. 20:6). We who have fled for refuge to Jesus, who on the cross paid our penalty, substituting Himself in or place, are now and will forever be, living in the reality of life in Christ because of Christ. Our names were written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb slain (Rev. 13:8-10).

Jesus' Gate and Road are two saving realities that we must focus our attention on. The Gate is His gracious substitutionary death and resurrection, in which we believe and are saved. His Road is the way of His gracious commands to follow Him in rugged daily discipleship. It's a once-for-all decision and a long walk at the same time. Because of Christ's power we can remain steadfast in the midst of difficult life, making moment by moment decisions; staying and kept on the road that leads to life by Him who is the Life.