June-July 1999 The Sabbath Sentinel

The Road Not Taken -- A Scriptural Journey

by Doby

"The Road Not Taken"- written in 1915 by Robert Frost (1874-1963), has been one of my favorite noncannonical verses ever since being called to "the Way" (Acts 9:2, 19:23, 24:14, 22 - NKJV) that is, our Saviour, who is "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). It holds a special symbolism for me. It is almost too easy for us to find a special meaning in this particular rhyme: life often finds us at one crossroads or another, faced with having to make a choice. This is especially true of those called to be Christian Sabbatarians. The way to which we have been called and chosen is not easy. You might say it is One Way, with no U-Turns.

Our Creator has given us the freedom to choose. This is our God-given right; but, His council is to "choose life" (Deuteronomy 30:19), which means to choose the path and aim of Jesus Christ. Our Saviour is "the Road not taken" by the rest of the world and the true "path of life" (Psalm 16:11) that has made all the difference in each of our lives. He is the Lord of our Sabbath, which was created for us.

In choosing to accept His Way, it is then, by necessity that we need to put our way aside; that is to make the carnal way our "road not taken." The Godly choice is so much more than a mere preference. It is a calling from which there should be no turning back. We may have originally left that other road for another day, but God's Spirit leads us on His Way, and day by day we're farther along the straight path.

If we follow men and their traditional dogmas, we will stumble and lose our way (Mark 7:6-9) from "the ancient paths" (Jeremiah 18:15): our direction will then be the way of Balaam (read 2Peter 2:1-3, 12-22); and we'll then have the angel of God standing against us as Balaam did (Numbers 22:31). To [re]turn from that false way we must follow the guide of biblical landmarks and signposts (Jeremiah 31:21) back from our own wrong way. One of the most important signs that we have been given to the true path is God's Holy (seventh day) Sabbath. We must follow God's signs, which guide us to the narrow gate.

Mislead someone on the road and we'll be cursed (Deuteronomy 27:18); or disobey the direction [commandments] of God to find ourselves tornand slain [by a lion on the road] (1Kings 13:20-28). The crooked path of sin takes us away from God and leads to death. As we see, this can happen even to a "man of God." Isaiah 59 speaks volumes to those on the crooked path who don't know the way of peace and salvation. To have fellowship with our Redeemer we must turn from the way of transgression. The Way to true peace and salvation is what the gospel (good news) of the coming Kingdom of God is all about (Isaiah 52:7)! Indeed, we must know that "Zion, your GOD reigns!"

You see, even we who know the right way must never play the fool. The fool, even on that right road, is senseless and lacks wisdom (Ecclesiastes 10:1-3). In this world's spiritual wilderness, we have our guide map, compass, food, water, light and straight path to follow home: Jesus Christ, the Word of God. He is all of these good things to us- and more. In the walk of our lives, we must follow Him spiritually, just as his disciples followed him physically on the road (Mark. 10:32).

After His resurrection, Jesus was there, on that road, to comfort and guide His disciples (Luke 24:24-53). He opened their minds to understand the scriptures about Himself and "the Way." (Read the story of Saul, who met Jesus on the road to Damascus and had the course of his life forever change (Acts, all of chapter 26.) Today, we who are on that spiritually analogous straight road have the promised Comforter, His Holy Spirit, bearing witness through us, and leading us who love and keep His Commandments (John 14:14-26, 16:7-14, Acts 5:32).

The longest of the Ten Commandments happens to be about remembering to keep the Sabbath day holy. Sadly, even some of us who "keep" it forget that it is a full four verses long (Exodus 20:8-11). Usually, only the first of the four verses is quoted in the now popular edited version of the 10 Commands. If we are lax on verse 9 or verse 10, then we break all 10 (James 2:10). We must read all four of these and judge ourselves accordingly.

While six days of the week we might spend at our physical work- the seventh day was made specifically for us to remember our spiritual walk with God on His path. We, the called out and redeemed, who keep God's commandments, are His Spirit defined Church. We must walk in love (Ephesians 5:2) on that straight Way of peace and holiness, where healing is to be found (Hebrews 12:12-13). Yet, it is not an easy road. "The gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few" (Matthew 7:14). "For many are called, but few are chosen" (Matthew 22:14).

Though it is a straight way, those on it would say that it is mostly an uphill hike. Interestingly, when the Israelites traveled to the Feast of Tabernacles, the road to Jerusalem was [and still is] all uphill. In fact, we should expect our journey to be on a rocky road as well (Acts 14:22). There's no taking detours or shortcuts around God's mountain (to get to the other side); our destination is to the city of our God at the very top! (Psalms 48:1-3, 8, 14, 87:1-3, Hebrews 12:22-24, Revelation 3:12, 21:2-3).

Some of us are running a marathon on that road, others are jogging, while many prefer to walk; still, there are those who are doing their best just to crawl. The idea isn't how fast we run, but that we finish the race (Luke 13:29-30). Unfortunately, some have stopped to gaze, while others have lain down and fallen asleep. Worse yet, many are walking in a backwards direction, and a sad lot have completely left the path and lost the way (Job 24:13).

There are even some that have fallen into one of the two runoff ditches on either side of the Way. They may be walking beside the true Way- yet, what will happen to them when the rains come? Indeed, many have been lead astray like lost sheep who have forgotten their resting place (Jeremiah 50:6). These will be devoured (verse 7).

Despite all this, we do have a responsibility to go after those who err from the truth (Matthew 18:12). There is a sure blessing in their spiritual edification and loving rescue (Luke 15:4-7, James 5:19-20)! (The scriptures say a great deal contextually on the subject of our spiritual warfare, growth and edification- which we should read, study, and incorporate into the very core of our character. Examine these for a start: Philippians 1:27- 2:5, Ephesians 4, 5, & 6, 1Thessalonians 5:14-22, [etc.]).

We can call out to the lost sheep, even go after [to rescue] them, but we need not look back longingly to any of the other path[s] that may have held all manner of earthly treasures for us- Hebrews 11:26). Doing so would make us unworthy (Matthew 22:8- 10). Steadfastly, we must endure to seek the greater goal: for our hike is to Zion (Hebrews 12:12- 15, 22-24), whose highway is in our hearts (Psalm 84:5, 7)!

So, it's understandable why we can't help but be inspired by the beauty, poetic symbolism, and special meaning that Frost's poem holds for us who are the first fruits. (Jeremiah 6:16) of God's great harvest. We've been gifted: blessed with the understanding of God's purpose- the awesome reality of the meaning of life. All around us, we can see the beautiful analogies of the Creation, which is the very proof of the Word of God (Romans 1:20).

The Eternal continually lights and guides our steps. (Exodus 13:21, Job 22:27-28, Proverbs 6:22-23). Our Creator will make our aim true, our path straight, and heal us if we acknowledge and trust Him in all that we do- remembering to keep His commandments focused and sure (Proverbs 3:1 -8). Our Saviour is our one way to life, and our only direction home. He is "The Road of Holiness." Carefully read Isaiah 35: 8-10, and then chapter 40:3-5.

Like footprints in wet sand, He has left an impression on us that we must not let the tides of this world wash away. His imprint on our character must become permanent. We must follow the Way by His lead: preach the Kingdom of God, and never look back (Luke 9:57-62) so that we neither stumble, nor fall, nor lose our way. Nevertheless, if we ever do, without fear we must just look to Him who has promised to never leave us or forsake us- and, . . . He will be there to make all the difference (John 14:18, Hebrews 13:5).

We will surely enjoy Frost's poem much more the next time we read it. For us all, we pray: a fruitful and safe journey in God's Holy Spirit of love on the straight road to life everlasting! Amen.

Isaiah 2:3 "And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem."

"The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the other for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Doby and his lovely wife Kim consider themselves fellow servants in the body of the "Greater Spiritual Church of God"- which is not distinguished by any man-made corporate boundaries, but is indeed defined by the indwelling gift of God's Holy Spirit. They live in the Okanagan Valley of (South Central) British Columbia and can be reached via <DOBYandKIM@home.com>

June - July 1999 The Sabbath Sentinel