We are Travelers — and there are two roads on the map. One leads to Death, the other to Life. You are traveling one of those roads right now.

We have already established that we are born traveling the road to Death. By the way, this is the third article in a series called Two Roads. Previous articles are always available at http://www.webbweekly.com.

The only other option is the road to Life. These roads are very different, so let’s take a closer look at each one.
The Road to Death

This road is easy to find — because we’re born on it. It is wide and worn smooth. It’s like a twelve-lane superhighway circling a major city. It has mile markers to keep track of the years. The older you get, the faster they pass, and each one is a stark reminder that Death is getting closer.

The traffic is generally bumper-to-bumper, but since everyone is going in the same direction, the speed is always fast. At first, the grade of the road is imperceptibly downhill, and the outer lanes travel rather slowly. This makes Death seem a long way off to young travelers.

But as time passes, travelers are forced into inner lanes where the speed increases. Rest stops and exit ramps are nearly impossible to access from these fast-moving inner lanes. The traveling is intense as the downhill grade increases and mile markers fly by. Fear and burnout become the norm.

Travelers on the road to Death tend to haul a lot of stuff. Why not? Having stuff makes some travelers look more important and successful than others — even though the destination never changes. There are many billboards on the road to Death, but they all drive the same message: Eat, drink, and be merry — for tomorrow, we die.

The Joneses, the proverbial family who always have more and better, lead the way. Everyone on the road is trying to keep up with them. This constant pressure gives the road to Death its popular nickname: The Rat Race. Since no one is able to keep up with the Joneses, life on the road to Death feels meaningless. Read Ecclesiastes 1 and 2 and see if it resonates with how you’re feeling as you travel.
The Road to Life

This road is hard to find because it looks more like a path. It’s just not what a traveler is expecting. Thankfully, there are fellow travelers who help others find the entrance.

It’s kind of rocky, and there’s a lot to trip over, so you’ve got to watch every step.

It’s not crowded. Oh, there are a few people up ahead and a few coming behind, but for the most part, it’s just you and your closest traveling companions. The lack of wear can make the road hard to follow. This makes having a guide, map, light, compass, and traveling companions important. We’ll talk more about those in an upcoming article.

The grade on the road to Life is gentle but always uphill — and the wind is always in your face. You can’t coast on this road. It demands work. That’s why this road is not a popular choice. Occasionally, the grade is steep, requiring all you’ve got to make the climb. Travelers on this road make sacrifices to keep their backpacks light — another unpopular choice.

Travelers on this road have time and room to breathe. As they climb, the air gets lighter and cleaner. They also enjoy the reward of elevation as they take in ever-expanding vistas. It is from these high places they gain perspective. They can see where they’ve been — and where they’re going. The former gives them a sense of direction and accomplishment, the latter a clear view of the majestic peaks yet to come. The road to Life is a challenging road, but it is good, meaningful, and hopeful.

The two roads do have some things in common. We’ll talk about those in next week’s article,
Traveling Companions

So, have you sought out a group of traveling companions? I mentioned in article one that we were not designed to travel alone, and in this article, the need for traveling companions. The enemy’s go-to strategy for keeping us on the road to Death is convincing us we are alone. The enemy points at the road to Death and says, “Look! Everyone is on that road; everyone is doing it; you’ll have a lot of friends on the road to Death. That’s where all the fun is.” It’s a lie.

It’s true that the road to Death is crowded, but every Traveler on it feels alone. It’s like the people who have thousands of “friends” on social media, but when they need a friend, they can’t find one. On the road to Death, true friendship is a mirage.

On the road to Life, you must have traveling companions. Listen to the wise counsel found in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12,

Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

So, get a group. The Law of Intentionality teaches us that intention is more productive than chance. Be intentional. Find several traveling companions and get together weekly to build relationships as you discuss these Faith Conversation articles.

I have my group. I pray you will put in the effort to develop yours. It’s worth it.