Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” The indelible ending of Robert Frost’s “The Road not taken” has inspired generations of risk takers to go against the grain in search of purpose and success. To be sure, many of the great success stories of the past relate tales of determination to defy expectation and convention in pursuit of triumph. It should be noted, however, that the idea was not original to Frost–God said it first.
The first Psalm perfectly introduces the Psalter by providing clarity through the haze of life. As a whole the Psalms present a multifaceted walk through the complexity of life. Mourning over loss and personal tragedy, struggling with questions of good and evil, rejoicing in Jehovah’s endless mercy, and remembering the past to inform the present, are just a few of the themes explored in the book. But whatever the circumstance may be, at it’s foundation, life is really about one choice–which road will you take?
The Psalmist tells us that the Blessed man is the one who chooses not to think like the ungodly, behave like sinners, or fit in with the scornful (Ps. 1:1). Rather, he finds true delight and pleasure in the Word of God and devotes himself to constant meditation of it’s precepts (Ps. 1:2). It’s and Old Testament illustration of Matthew 7:13-14. While the world does everything in its power to influence our thinking and behavior we must stand firm against its advances and give ourselves entirely to our Creator, however unpopular it may be. It truly is the only way to be blessed.
The two roads of life stand before us all. One is the way of righteousness which leads to eternal life, the other is the way of unrighteousness which leads to eternal damnation. Which will you choose?