What Path Will You Choose?

While I was back in Alaska for a bit, I did my best to attend weekly Bible study meetings and daily Mass. We love our parish home back there and I wanted to soak up the wonderful homilies and discussions while I could.

As we were entering the season of Lent, I had a one, two punch on the topic of the 2 Ways.

The first was daily Mass on February 27th (2020) with the reading from Deuteronomy 30:15-20. The second was from the MOMS group Adventures in Matthew study where they were on Chapter 7.

On the same day. So, I knew that God was speaking and I needed to listen.

The Two Ways in the Old Testament

Moses said to the people:
“Today I have set before you life and prosperity, death and doom.
If you obey the commandments of the LORD, your God,
which I enjoin on you today, loving him, and walking in his ways,
and keeping his commandments, statutes and decrees, you will live and grow numerous,
and the LORD, your God, will bless you in the land you are entering to occupy.

If, however, you turn away your hearts and will not listen, but are led astray and adore and serve other gods, I tell you now that you will certainly perish;
you will not have a long life n the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and occupy.

I call heaven and earth today to witness against you:
I have set before you life and death,
the blessing and the curse.
Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live, by loving the LORD, your God,
heeding his voice, and holding fast to him.
For that will mean life for you, a long life for you to live on the land that the LORD swore
he would give to your fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”

Here we are told that there are two ways one can proceed with their life. Not infinite choices like some may want to claim. But TWO ways.

It all boils down to whether we choose God and live. Or reject God and die.

This is done by what we say and do.
Daily.
Not just a one time proclamation.

It is small choices that lead us on the path to life. 

And it can be difficult. 
Challenging.
Uncomfortable.

Why?

Because the world promotes self.
Comfort.
Life away from God.

The Narrow Gate in the New Testament

Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many.

How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.

 

In that short section of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus reminds us of the two ways talked about in Deuteronomy. Only he refers to it in the sense of a gate. Regardless of which way you think about it, the end result is the same. Eternal life or death. 

That narrow gate leads to life, yet many do not find and enter through it.

Why?

Because it means more sacrifice and suffering to go through it. 

Some Of My Thoughts Surrounding the Two Ways

As humans, it is in our nature to avoid sacrifice and suffering. Few willingly seek it out.

Have an ache or pain, take a pill to ease your suffering.
Does a particular thing make you uncomfortable, then just avoid it.

I see this as an underlying issue in this age of social media, too.

We see other’s “perfect” lives and assume they do not bear a cross.
Instead we see their blessings and allow envy to take root.

Maybe we want to beat our chests and draw attention to ourselves in a quest to appear more pious.
As if our exhibition proclaims to the world about God’s love for us and His gift of Salvation.

Or we embrace the dangerous thinking that some of your actions aren’t really that bad. That God is good and will let it slip by. However, that train of thought leads to our widening the path and broadening the gate.

Rather, we must be aware of our surroundings. 

Use discernment to spot false prophets in our lives.

To live a wise, prudent life.

To constantly seek the Lord with every fiber of our being. Every single day of our lives.

Fear not, we are all on this journey of life.

Seeking God.

Making the best choices we can each day as we journey towards eternal life with Him. 

And it is knowing this that reaffirms why I am drawn to attend daily Mass and Bible studies at St. Andrew’s parish. The time of nourishment in God’s Word helps me to continue forging forth each day when I am apart from such a wonderful community.

 

 

This post is being linked up to 40 Days of Seeking Him.

Join me and other Christian bloggers on the journey through Lent.