Two Roads Diverge
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”
Don’t be surprised when religious institutions and powerful religious leaders turn against you the moment it becomes clear where your allegiance lies.
It’s the moment of truth—when you are asked, perhaps by someone you trust and respect, to follow them instead of Jesus. Two roads diverge from the place at which you stand and now you must decide.
Perhaps you are being asked to take part in an unethical decision, look the other way, put your head down and keep going, or even help cover up evil. Perhaps what you’re being asked to do will bring harm to or dishonor to someone else. You may be asked to be a “team player”, not worry about the stewardship you’ve been given but just to follow the leader, or not to interfere for the sake of your job or security. It’s not your business anyway because these decisions are above your pay grade. Or is it?
Two roads diverge. Now it’s decision time.
As followers of the One True King, we must never give way to fear. At these critical junctures of life all of Heaven watches while scribes await to record the direction of history. Don’t ever believe your decisions are futile or hidden. Not only do they dictate the course of your life, but affect the paths of many others.
As ambassadors of the Risen King, we are called to a life of choosing the path Jesus is on—every time. And that’s sometimes a path of suffering.
Jesus said:
“The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household! So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs.”
We should not expect that we will be treated any different than Jesus was if we are to walk closely with him.
Jesus said:
“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Who persecuted the prophets? Only ever the powerful leaders of the day—many times the religious leaders. Such was the case for Jesus. Stephen, also, cried out: "Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become” (Acts 7:52) The pharisees were filled with rage at these words and proceeded to drag him out of the city and stone him to death.
Biblical accounts are replete with story after story of ambassadors of the King being persecuted, mistreated, maligned, and murdered (often by the religious leaders of their day) for speaking the truth. Paul said, “for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 2:10) We must accept that following Jesus means suffering as he suffered on earth and as he still suffers alongside the weak, oppressed, and persecuted. If we reject the way of suffering and persecution, we reject the way of Jesus.
When the rubber meets the road, what will you choose?
