The Lord Jesus said some words that every person, young or old, would do well to pay very careful attention to. He said, “Broad is the way, that [leads] to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat . . . and narrow is the way, which [leads] unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13-1413Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matthew 7:13‑14)).
Recently, we read of an event which is an example of what the Lord Jesus meant. A group of over 100 runners set out on a 10,000-meter cross-country race. There would be only one winner, but each runner hoped to at least complete the race even if he or she weren’t the winner.
As the race progressed, one runner found himself running alone. Since he was sure he had followed the signs and taken the correct turn, he kept waving to the other runners to follow him. Only four believed he was going the right way and followed him; all the others followed the crowd of runners going in the wrong direction and missed the goal of the race. Later when he was asked what the other runners’ reactions were to his taking the correct turn, the young man said, “They thought it was funny that I went the right way.”
And isn’t that just how it is for any boy or girl who decides to follow Jesus? Following Jesus means to leave the broad way that leads to destruction and to turn onto the narrow way that leads to eternal life. And sometimes it means you will run alone. Friends or family may think it is funny that you are going the right way, but the prize will be awarded to the one who continues on that narrow way, while all the others will miss it. Another Bible verse tells us to “run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus” (Hebrews 12:1212Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; (Hebrews 12:12)). Jesus goes on before us, waving us on and beckoning us to follow Him, and because He knows the way well, we are safe when we follow Him. Don’t be like the crowd who thought it was funny when the runner went the right way. They lost both the race and the prize!
ML-03/25/2007