Two roads diverged in a wood, and I
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
This bit of verse by Robert Frost probably means more to us than it meant even to its author.
“The road less traveled by” – doesn’t that describe the narrow road Jesus pointed out as the road to life?
We know the passage well, but let us read it again for an even deeper impression of its meaning.
Matthew 7:13–14 13“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. 14Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
“The road less traveled by” – that surely describes the narrow way Jesus pointed out. There were never very many on the road, and as we near the end of the road, we see fewer and fewer on it.
Why? What possible objections could there be?
OBJECTION 1: The NARROW Road has Too few travelers
That really doesn’t affect the benefit to anyone, does it?
–unless we are choosing the road just to “enjoy” the walk. Isn’t it more likely that we choose any road because of where it will take us?
But the very fact that there are few on the road makes a lot of people not want to join. Their first conclusion is that because there are so few, something must be wrong with the road.
But what did Jesus say about the popularity of it?
Luke 13:23–24 23Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” And He said to them, 24“Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
He knew it would not be crowded!
OBJECTION 2: The destination is out of sight.
Yes, we like to SEE where we are going. We want to see the END of the road. And it IS out of sight. We walk by faith.
1 Corinthians 2:9 9But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
If we believe God’s promises, we take this as a POSITIVE, not a NEGATIVE. Because it will be beyond anything we can ask or imagine. Think about this promise:
Ephesians 3:20 20Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
It DOES require faith. Because:
Hebrews 11:6 6But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
We must be convinced that God WILL reward. That is why we keep going over the evidence. And that is how even Paul could say,
2 Corinthians 5:7 7For we walk by faith, not by sight.
OBJECTION 3: I don’t like the requirements. Too stiff.
What really worthwhile goal was ever easy? Stiff requirements sift out the achievers. That is why the requirements are the highest.
That is why Peter said:
2 Peter 1:5–8 5But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul added:
Romans 12:9–12 9Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;
Here he summarized:
Romans 12:21 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Anything less would not bring us to the level He wants in His Kingdom.
OBJECTION 4: Wrong Type of People on the ROAD.
People on the road aren’t “with it” in today’s culture. Too old fashioned, unprogressive.
Actually… what a compliment! Being content is a virtue, not a vice. Paul said,
1 Timothy 6:6–8 6Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
OBJECTION 5: Leaders are too removed from the real world, too stuck-in-the-mud.
This is why God sent Jesus to show the way. Jesus himself said:
John 13:15 15For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.
And John added:
1 John 2:5–6 5But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
OBJECTION 6: The road is too hazardous.
Too hazardous? When God Himself offers protection? This is His promise:
Psalm 34:7 7The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.
And think about the angels He sends to help us:
Hebrews 1:14 14Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?
OBJECTION 7: No guaranteed destination, no known port of arrival.
No port in this world is so sure and certain as the one God has planned for His own. Think about this statement by Peter:
2 Peter 1:11 11for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
An abundant entrance—what more could we want, or seek, or long for?
OBJECTION 8: Takes too much blind faith.
It is faith, but it is NOT blind faith. It is faith founded on evidence.
Look at Hebrews 11. All trusted God’s word, and when we read what the people did, we see they went ahead in faith.
Take Abraham. First, he started out at God’s command, not knowing where he was going. THAT took faith.
Hebrews 11:8 8By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
He didn’t know the destination, but he WENT. He trusted God. Completely.
Hebrews 11:10 10for he [looked for] the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Notice too, Abraham was thinking AHEAD, not BACK. And for GOOD reason!
Hebrews 11:14–16 14For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return.
Notice too, these “full of faith” travelers were thinking AHEAD, not BACK. And for GOOD reason!
16But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
These are the type of people God is looking for, who will take Him at His word and go for the gold!
OBJECTION 9: The NARROW Road Has Shortage of supplies on the way
No shortages—because God has promised to supply every need. Where WE cannot, He CAN. And He WILL.
Philippians 4:19 19And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Jesus said the same:
Matthew 6:33 33But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
David knew there would be NO WANT to those fearing God. He testified to it himself:
Psalm 34:9 9Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him.
OBJECTION 10: Loss of the really “good things”—the “fun” things of life.
What is real pleasure? What is EMPTY pleasure, gone with no gain?
It is a matter of what we love, and LEARN to love. God gives a very real promise here that more than covers the gap:
Psalm 84:11 11For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly.
No good withheld now, and ALL and abundant good promised for the future—if we do our little part in between.
Psalm 36:7–9 7How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings. 8They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, And You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures. 9For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light.
Then, WHERE is the NEGATIVE?
Only here: that we must submit to God’s way, pay the price of giving up our will, our way, our pride, our self-esteem.
As Jesus said,
Luke 9:23 23Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
This is precisely WHY we choose the road less traveled by —because it has the RIGHT destination. Because it is the way to LIFE.
Because (let’s read it together)
Mortal eye has never seen,
Mortal ear has never heard,
Mortal heart has never imagined
The things God has prepared for those who love Him.
–Paraphrase of 1 Cor. 2:9
And that is why when
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.