The Two Ways

The Two Ways

July 27, 2008

Introduction

Robert Frost wrote:

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads converged in a wood, and I--

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

This morning, I want to talk about “the road less traveled by.” Jesus didn’t use the expression, “less traveled by,” instead He called it the narrow way.

(Matthew 7:13-14 NKJV) ""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. (14) "Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

What does the Bible say about the Bible say about this road which leads to life?

Body

I. It is described as the old paths.

(Jeremiah 6:10-16 NKJV) "To whom shall I speak and give warning, That they may hear? Indeed their ear is uncircumcised, And they cannot give heed. Behold, the word of the LORD is a reproach to them; They have no delight in it. . . .. (14) They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly, Saying, 'Peace, peace!' When there is no peace. (15) Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed; Nor did they know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; At the time I punish them, They shall be cast down," says the LORD. (16) Thus says the LORD: "Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it.'"

A. “Ask for the old paths. . .”

1. There needs to be a desire to ask for the old paths, “where the good way is.”

B. What constitutes the good way?

1. It is a way of the Word of God.

Jeremiah 6:10 Behold, the word of the LORD is a reproach to them; They have no delight in it.

2. It is a way of morality and conscience trained by the Word of the Lord.

Jeremiah 6:15 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed; Nor did they know how to blush. .

C. And walk in it. -- The willingness to do God’s will.

(Matthew 7:20-21 NKJV) ""Therefore by their fruits you will know them. (21) "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven."

II. The Psalmist spoke of the way.

Psalm 1:1-6

Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.

3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.

4 The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.

5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

A. The ways that are bypassed.

Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

Henry Howard wrote in The Threshold, of scorners:

“Instead of unmasking badness, they are more concerned with defacing goodness, casting the shade of suspicion across the fairest reputations, chuckling suggestively at every mention of honour, curling a contemptuous lip when fidelity is praised, holding duty in derision and God in defiance, despising authority and flouting law.”

B. What is enjoyed?

Psalm 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.

1. His delight is in the law of the Lord.

2. He meditates day and night upon it. -- He explains it to His children.

(Deuteronomy 6:6-7 NKJV) ""And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. (7) "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up."

C. He is like a tree.

1. He has a root system. -- He is not tossed about by whatever is popular or accepted.

a. Roots anchor us.

Hebrews 6:19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,

b. Roots provide water and nourishment.

2. There is also the fruit produced

John 15:1-2,4-8 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.2 “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.4 “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.6 “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.7 “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.8 “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

D. Whatever he does shall prosper.

III. What is the way of the wicked?

A. Instability

B. Insecurity

C. The sowing and the reaping.

Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Conclusion

Two roads converged in a wood, and I--

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

Which road will you take? Where will it end?

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