The Fork in the Road

[Name], imagine that you and many others are walking down the pathway of life and you come to a fork in the path. The path to the left has a wide gate with many attractions seen up ahead, but the path to the right has a narrow gate with a sign posted saying, “This Way to Life”. Which way should you go? Jesus said, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few” (Matthew 7:13 – 14 ESV).

Imagine that at each pathway at the fork there is a sign describing the kind of wisdom you will encounter as you travel down that particular path. At the wide path the sign says, “Wisdom of the World” and in small print is a warning that states, “You may experience bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart. You may experience earthly, nonspiritual and demonic thoughts. You may experience disorder and evil practice along the way” (From James 3:14 – 16). At the narrow path the sign says, “Wisdom from God” and in small print it says, “The wisdom you will experience along this path is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere” (From James 3:17). [Name], how do you think going down each of these pathways might relate to what you are struggling with in your life?

 [Name], you are currently traveling along the path leading up to the fork in the road. Because of my love for you as a friend, I desire to do all that I can to help you make the right decision at the fork. I believe the advice you are seeking from me will be found along the narrow pathway. It is also the pathway that leads to eternal life.

We will consider this further in our next lesson.