The Fork In The Road

P

erhaps all of us have had the experience of coming to a fork in the road and wondering which way to choose. We had deep concern because we knew that the wrong choice would cause us to lose our way.

This is a picture of life! All who mature toward accountable adulthood come to an important fork in life. A fork that is more serious than all the other ones that will ever be faced in life. Why is this true? Because one of the ways in the fork leads to eternal life, and the other to eternal death (Matthew 7:13,14).

Why did Jesus leave the beauties of heaven to come to a world of darkness and sin? The answer, to provide the only way to the Father and salvation. Therefore, without Christ, all will travel the awful way to destruction. Jesus said of Himself,

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).

How does a lost sinner choose the narrow way of Jesus that leads to life? He or she must first believe that Jesus is God’s Son and the only way to salvation. However, this is not enough! The sinner must also turn from the way of sin and death to the way of salvation and life. This is called in the Bible repentance. Thus, repentance involves changing one’s heart and then turning from the way of sin to the way of salvation. At this point, he or she confesses that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (Romans 10:9,10).

Peter called upon lost sinners to “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19).

They had a choice! They could continue traveling the way of death, or they could turn to the way of life. The same apostle had told the crucifiers in Acts 2, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). When those who gladly received his word did this, they were forgiven of their sins, saved, and added to the church (Acts 2:47).

The same is true today. All who reach the age to be accountable come to this important fork! What choice will it be? The choice is between life and death! Jesus said it plainly, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16).

Jesus provided the way to salvation, but He never forced anyone to choose it! However, those who have a believing, penitent heart, who confess Him to be the Christ, and then put Him on in baptism are saved (Galatians 3:26,27). These have chosen the right way in the fork. Those who refuse to obey Him have chosen the other way of the fork that leads to eternal condemnation.

Therefore, choose Jesus, the Way, because he is the “author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” (Hebrews 5:9). —BBBristow