The Road Narrows...
Wednesday, January 30, 2008 at 6:03AM 
Hello, Friends!
Susie Larson here...
And to those visiting, I say welcome! I post every Wednesday, and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way.
Before I get into my topic, I want to mention that next week I will be giving away a $10.00 Caribou gift card to one of you who posted on my blog in January. Like coffee, smoothies, green tea? Post a note and share what God is doing in your life! Your name might be drawn for a sweet treat!
Yesterday I had lunch with a friend and we enjoyed a candid conversation about the church, our lives, and the world in which we live.
"This is a different day than we've ever known" my friend said. "If we want to make it, we can't pretend; we have to talk about stuff. There are too many temptations to pretend that they don't exist, and there's too much at stake to just pretend everything is okay."
She's right, you know.
If you've heard me speak or read some of what I've written, you've no doubt heard the analogy I've repeatedly shared with my sons:
The Christian life is like a winding, country road - with deep ditches on each side. One ditch represents your rebellion, the other, your response to someone else's rebellion. Satan could care less which ditch he gets you into, he just wants you off the road.
Last night as I tossed and turned and battled sleeplessness, I found myself thinking again about that analogy.
Many today are painfully pretending to be something they are not. In public, they look like the stereotypical Christian, but behind the scenes they are embroiled deep in addictive behavior.
Other Christians are squeaky clean on the outside, but their hearts are hard with pride because they love to look down on those who struggle with such blatant sins.
As I pondered my analogy, I pictured more and more of the road giving way, creating cavernous ditches on both sides, and leaving a very narrow road on which to walk.
As the love of most grows cold, the ditches will widen and the road will narrow.
Daily we'll be faced with the choice:
Do I forgive or do I pick up an offense?
Do I love or do I hate?
Do I offer grace, or do I hold a grudge?
Do I believe the best, or do I assign a motive?
Do I chase after a pure heart, or do accumulate unloving assessments towards others?
Will I reach down and rescue someone from the fire or will I straighten up and with my hands on my hips declare, "Thank God I'm not like them!"?
If we are committed to this walk of faith, we are committing ourselves to love and forgiveness, obedience and mercy.
Did you ever play King-of-the-hill when you were young?
Well imagine this: you're on the narrow road, and your faced with the various temptations that seek to pull you down (the temptation to drink too much and or the temptation to judge the one who does). Now picture those temptations as the neighborhood bully who is trying to join the game just so he can send you flying off of the hill (or the road in this case).
Every time you're tempted to rebel - one way or the other - take that thing and fling it into the ditch. Refuse rebellion; it's not cute and it's not funny. But refuse pride too; it's an insidious sin.
Keep your heart pure and guard it for everything you're worth.
Cherish your oneness with God as your highest and most precious treasure.
As the days grow more evil, the road grows more narrow.
You may feel like you're walking alone at times, but you never are.
Greater are those who are for you and with you, than those who are against you.
Finish the race with grace and strength.
God is on your side.
Blessings to you this week~
Reader Comments (8)
If we keep our hearts true and honest before God and eachother the enemy can't trap us. (thus end up in the ditch)
Thank you to you and your friend for a great reminder!
Thank you, sweet friend, for stopping by and leaving such a nice note. I pray that God keeps you in a place of rest and hope as you launch your new book.
You are a treasure...
Thanks for the note!
You know, that analogy has really been a great teaching tool with my sons. I hope your kids benefit from it as well!Blessings to you~
As always-standing in the gap for you,
Tam
So, so good to hear from you!
Isn't that country road analogy so fitting? It's a great reminder for all of us. I think it's way too easy to subtly move towards the ditch with little choices and little attitudes and before we know it, we're one choice away from falling headlong into a mess. Especially in the days we now live in, we have to keep a close watch on our hearts and attitudes.Amen? Amen!