The Road Less Traveled
The poet Robert Frost penned one of the most famous lines ever in American poetry:
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less traveled…”
In the church context, despite current statistics, the path less traveled is not a new idea. In fact, Christ spoke of it very directly:
““Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” ”
The assignment of the 21st century church in America – while fundamentally no different than the assignment of the 1st century church – brings with it challenges that were inconceivable to those in the church even a short 100 years ago. The assignment is to show the world (the “unsaved”) the path to salvation and Christian discipleship.
Now it may come as a surprise to some that this assignment falls to every church – and every Christian that makes up the church; our job is to point people to the narrow path that Christ describes. So, that said, you may be wondering “How do I do something like that? That Seems way outside of what I know.” Well, the path you can point people to is what’s often called the “Romans Road”. No, it’s not the Via Dolorosa in Rome, or a street in some obscure section of your town; the Romans Road is a walk through a few Bible verses in the book of Romans that will lead a person who has not yet made a decision to follow Christ right to a decision point. Take a look at the stops along the Romans' Road:
The Romans' Road
Romans 3:23
“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard"
Romans 6:23
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 5:8
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 10:9
“If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
This “Road” – indeed less traveled – is the road that leads those who take it to the peace of God (Philippians 4:7), to the power of God (Acts 1:8) and eventually into the presence of God (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
The poet concludes his master work by letting us in on the most beautiful and encouraging outcome from having taken the road less traveled; he says: “And that has made all the difference.” And so we are, each one of us, left to answer a question for ourselves:” Am I ready for God to make a difference in MY life?”
““Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life].”