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March 2, 2011

The Trail...

Matthew 7:13-14
13Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Driving west off 395 on Dahl Road, you will see the Church in the Wildwood to your immediate right. If you continue a few miles down that same road, this is what you might see. A beautiful sunset! Do you know what it would take to get to that point on that mountain to watch the sun go down?
I can give you an idea! We have trailered horses to the yellow gate that leads to that mountain top that you see in the center of this picture. Once you have the horses out of the trailer and start up that very primitive road, the going is pretty easy. After all, you are on the horse's back...he's doing all the work!!

After a short ride on this primitive road you need to turn onto a small trail. This trail will get smaller and steeper quickly! But your horse will continue to do the work for a while longer! As the incline gets steeper…it won’t be if, but when, you will need to step off your horse and lead him because the both of you will be all but crawling up that hill!

If you go straight up, there will be a point where your horse will no longer be able to maneuver the terrain... the rocks, thick brush and extreme incline will be just to much. You will need to tie your trusty steed and continue on by yourself. If you have convinced yourself this is worth it, then just keep beating the brush and dragging your tired body up that mountain…I suggest you stop and pray a few times on this little journey, you are going to need the help!

So, you made it to the top…but the sunset is over and darkness has surrounded you. Do you still want to see a sunset from that mountain top? How much do you want it? Because now you are going to have to spend the night on that almost invisibly, very narrow little trail…in the dark, in the cold, with all the wild animal noises coming from places you can’t see. Then you will have to spend the next day…all day…without food if you forgot a lunch…by yourself, because there won’t be a lot of people willing to go through this with you…sitting there, loosing patience, getting bored, ready to give up, and then praying for the strength to stick to you commitment…and continuing to sit there…until that sun comes back around, and finally, you get to see that sunset you were so sure would be the most beautiful thing your eyes would ever witness!

Was it worth it? You bet! I think that is a simplified version of what it must be like to stay on the path that God has set for us. The path is narrow and trying, hard for us to stick to, but if we want to witness the beauty that God has promised us, we will have to stand our ground, stay our course, even if those around us won't make the trip, can't maneuver the terrain...we, you, I, need to stick it out. It will be the most important thing we ever do...the only thing that truly matters!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I really enjoyed the story, it is a good analogy. Gives me something to think about.