New years Sunday School Lesson

The Two Roads

Matt 7:13-14

There are two gates and two roads

The gates have a purpose: to keep the world out

Our pastor preached a wonderful message on this scripture almost a year ago but I want to look at the scriptures from a slightly different perspective. It has been taught that the two roads go to different places but what if they both go to the same place?

Think of the wide road as a multilane superhighway. It could have three, four, five or even more lanes.

Traffic on the right:

Christians who live in the right lane tend to be intolerant, judgmental believers who are convinced they are defending the faith. They are like drivers who drive strictly the speed limit who are quick to criticize other drivers. These Christians follow a strict code of behavior and are quick to point out the short comings of others. Some of their characteristics are:

1. Too narrow a translation of the bible.
2. Certain behaviors are a sin, i.e. Singing in church, attending church on Sunday, using the wrong translation of the bible, dressing a certain way
3. music must meet a strict standard
4. Observance of church rituals must be adhered to strictly.
5. Must behave in a very strict manner
6. dogmatic in their beliefs
7. critical of the way others do things, especially if it doesn't meet their criteria.

The Christians on the right dictate to others what their behavior should be, they are demanding, unfulfilled, and for the most part they are unhappy. They are like the Parisees, adhering to the letter of the law but ignoring the laws intent.

The left Lane

The Christians who live in the left lane have an entirely different take on their religion. They have a more tolerant viewpoint on life. Some of the ways one can recognize these folks are by the following characteristics:

1. They want to leave out those parts of the bible they find offensive. Like the blood, sin, and unnatural lifestyles.
2. They want to water down the truth to make living a Christian life easier.
3. They want to change scriptures to conform to their beliefs.
4. They only want to teach those parts they believe in.

These folks are unfulfilled in their Christian life and difficult to recognize from non-believers.

The Center lane

Churches are full of people who like to drive, or live, in the center lane. They pride themselves on not being so dogmatic that it turns people off and not being so liberal that no one really knows what they believe in. These people can be recognized by the following characteristics:

1. Like things more conventional but don't reject the liberal teachings outright.
2. Like the newer programs and newer forms of worship but don't reject the old-fashioned ways outright.
3. They aren't quite ready to commit their lives wholly to Christ but are afraid to stray.

These people weave on the roadways, sometimes passing on the right, sometimes speeding down the far left lanes, but always coming back to the middle where they feel safer.

Many of the Christians on the wide road are motivated to lead, especially those on the left and to a lesser degree but the Christians traveling the narrow path, while content to just follow, are the true leaders.

The narrow Road

The narrow road really isn't a road but maybe more like a wide path. There are few people going this way but if you find one you will recognize them by the following characteristics:

1. They realize God is in control.
2. They realize that being a Christian is being in a relationship with Christ and is not trying to adhere to a code of conduct or merely attending church or accepting a religion.
3. They are willing to do what God wants them to do but not expecting God to bless them for what they want to do in God's name.
4. They are willing to love others in spite of faults and are willing to serve others, to do what is necessary to further God's kingdom from the lowliest tasks to the following of commandments.
5. They seek no honor for themselves but do all they do for the glory and honor of God.

The way is narrow not because it is hard to follow but because it doesn't have to be wide for one person to follow another or for two to walk side-by-side. The path only becomes hard when we take our eyes of Jesus (as Peter did when walking on the water) and get in the flesh.

The narrow road is the scenic route. One the wide road, the superhighway the destination is the goal. But on the narrow road, the journey is the goal. It isn't a rocky thorny difficult path that many have claimed it to be but a calm, pleasing stroll with the one we love.

The person who travels the narrow path have a glow about them that the world can see, a smile on their face when they have no right to smile, a happiness about them

when the world sees no reason for them to be happy.

As you go about your day do so thinking about Jesus and how sweet it is to have a savior like him, to know that God loves you and that no matter what happens in this world, God is in control.

Enjoy the trip.

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