CHAPTER 12
THE PATH LEAST TRAVELED
ENTER YE IN AT THE STRAIGHT GATE: FOR WIDE IS THE GATE, AND BROAD IS THE WAY, THAT LEADETH TO DESTRUCTION, AND MANY THEREBE WHICH GO IN THEREAT: BECAUSE STRAIGHT IS THE GATE: AND NARROW IS THE WAY, WHICH LEADETH UNTO LIFE, AND FEW THERE BE THAT FIND IT. Matthew, Chapter 7, Verses 13-14.
The PATH LEAST TRAVELED is the Path to the Tree of Life. The Cross is the Path leading to the Tree which bears the Fruit of Eternal Life. Jesus is the only one qualified to lead us down this Path. He is the TRUTH, THE LIFE and THE WAY. He is the RESURRECTION and the LIFE. Jesus takes us down the NARROW PATH which leads to the STRAIGHT GATE and Eternal Life. The Narrow Path holds the keys which leads to all Heavenly Blessings.
Jesus said: “I AM THE DOOR OF THE SHEEP.” The actual Greek reads: “I am the GATE of the sheep.” Although the PATH LEAST TRAVELED is narrow, it is the only Path which leads to the GATE, “JESUS.” Few people are interested in finding this narrow path because they are too busy with all the deceptive distractions and pleasures they encounter on the BROAD WAY which leads to death.
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD; I SHALL NOT WANT (lack). HE MAKETH ME TO LIE DOWN IN GREEN PASTURES: HE LEADETH ME BESIDE THE STILL WATERS. HE RESTORETH MY SOUL: HE LEADETH ME IN PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR HIS NAME’S SAKE. Psalms, 23, Verses 1-3.
The PATH LEAST TRAVELED is a righteous one. It is a HOLY HIGHWAY which leads to Eternal Life in Christ Jesus. Not many are willing to pay the price to walk in Holiness. Along the Highway of Holiness we learn to be obedient and faithful to His call. If we hunger and thirst after righteousness, we will be filled with all the Heavenly Treasures of the DIVINE NATURE OF CHRIST.
Man’s greatest Treasure is God’s plan and purpose for his life. Man’s greatest purpose is to walk a path in communion and fellowship with God. This is why our obedience to Him is of the utmost importance. The Law of Sin and Death, which is a consequence for eating the Forbidden Fruit, alienates us from fulfilling the call of God on our life. When we deny Christ access to our life, we travel the Path which leads to destruction.
Abraham sojourned in the land God promised him, but was continuously looking for that Heavenly City God was preparing for His people. He was looking for a Heavenly inheritance as his final resting place. He wasn’t satisfied with things which were temporal. He never ceased searching for that City while he was on Earth.
Abraham’s eyes were focused on the path which led to righteousness rather than the one which led to self- righteousness and destruction. He rejoiced to see “THE DAY OF CHRIST, SAW IT AND WAS GLAD.” John, Chapter 8, Verse 56. By Faith Abraham received the promise of a Savior who had not yet been born or died on the Cross.
The PATH LEAST TRAVELED is the Path which leads to Living Water. Along the Path is a River of Life-giving Water which never runs dry. Living Water produces the understanding we need as we drink from this FOUNTAIN OF LIFE.
SELF-DENIAL
IN HIM WAS LIFE AND; AND THE LIFE WAS THE LIGHT (understanding) OF MEN. When we are exposed to True Light, the Path on which we are walking becomes illuminated. Christ is the Light which enlightens the “eyes of our understanding” along the WAY. That Path leads us to NEWNESS OF LIFE AND SPIRIT WE FIND IN CHRIST JESUS. Romans, Chapter 6, Verse 4; Chapter 7, Verse 6.
THE PATH LEAST TRAVELED is the path of self-denial. Jesus said: IF ANY MAN WILL COME AFTER ME, LET HIM DENY HIMSELF, AND TAKE UP HIS CROSS AND FOLLOW ME. FOR WHOSOEVER WILL SAVE HIS LIFE SHALL LOSE IT; AND WHOSOEVER WILL LOSE HIS LIFE FOR MY SAKE WILL FIND IT. Matthew, Chapter 16, Verses 24-25. Like Christ, we have been called to a life of sacrifice and self-denial.
Self-denial is the Path few will Travel. In denying ourselves, we become Christ-centered rather than self- centered. Self-centeredness always looks inwardly to the needs and desires of one’s self. Christ-centeredness always focuses on the Tree of Life and the needs of others.
To walk the PATH LEAST TRAVELED we must die to our own Will and desires so that the Life and Light of Christ can lead us down the Path of TRUTH, RIGHTEOUSNESS AND FAITH. To “lose your life” means to relinquish control of your life to Christ so the plan and purpose of God can be fulfilled within you. Many are called to walk the PATH LEAST TRAVELED, however, few are chosen. Many are rejected because many choose to follow the desires of their own hearts.
THOU WILT SHOW ME THE PATH OF LIFE: IN THY PRESENCE IS FULLNESS OF JOY; AT THY RIGHT HAND THERE ARE PLEASURES EVERMORE. Psalms, 16, Verse 11.
The PATH LEAST TRAVELED is also the Path where we find the JOY OF THE LORD. It is the JOY of the Lord which is our strength. God desires that we be filled with His Joy—a Joy which is unspeakable and full of HIS GLORY. He gave us the Commandment to LOVE ONE ANOTHER in order that our joy can be full.
There is a JOY which cannot be described when we are eating from the Tree of Life. If you could bottle this Joy, it would be priceless. However, this Joy cannot be bottled and sold. Jesus already paid for our Joy at Calvary. This Joy is free to all who walk the PATH LEAST TRAVELED.
On the PATH LEAST TRAVELED we find Wisdom. FOR THE LORD GIVETH WISDOM: OUT OF HIS MOUTH COMETH KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING. HE LAYETH UP SOUND WISDOM FOR THE RIGHTEOUS: HE IS A BUCKLER TO THEM THAT WALK UPRIGHTLY. HE KEEPETH THE PATHS OF JUDGMENT, AND PERSERVETH THE WAY OF HIS SAINTS. THEN SHALL THOU UNDERSTAND RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUDGMENT, AND EQUITY; YEA, EVERY GOOD PATH. Proverbs, Chapter 2, Verses 6-9.
The PATH LEAST TRAVELED IS THE HIGHWAY OF HOLINESS. Without Holiness no man can walk with God in His Heavenly Paradise. Without Holiness no man can see God or know Him as He truly is.
The Path to true Wisdom leads us to the Cross of Christ. Jesus states in His Word that not many would walk this Path of Wisdom. The Wisdom of this World is rooted and grounded in the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Eve saw that the Fruit was GOOD FOR FOOD AND ONE THAT WOULD MAKE HER WISE. However, it was an earthly wisdom. The wisdom of this world is sensual and devilish. (see James Ch. 3, Vs. 15). The wisdom of this world is filled with deadly poisons which leads to the death, destruction and eternal punishment of men.
We obtain Faith, Knowledge and Understanding through Wisdom. Jesus Christ is our Wisdom. If we are following Him down the PATH LEAST TRAVELED, we will find Life Eternal and Joy Unspeakable which is FULL OF HIS GLORY.
Those who walk the PATH LEAST TRAVELED do not follow the Masses. They focus on the Tree of Life, Christ. Those who are led by the Spirit will walk in the Spirit. As long as they keep their eyes on the Tree of Life which is before them, they will not be influenced or beguiled by worldly pleasures and deceptive treasures.
THE PATH OF LOVE
Finally, THE PATH LEAST TRAVELED is the Path of Love. BELOVED, LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER: FOR LOVE IS OF GOD; AND EVERYONE THAT LOVETH IS BORN OF GOD, AND KNOWETH GOD. HE THAT LOVETH NOT KNOWETH NOT GOD; FOR GOD IS LOVE. 1 John, Chapter 3, Verses 7-8.
Without Love the Message of the Cross becomes void and of no affect. The Message of the Cross is the witness and the confirmation of the Love God has for His Beloved. The Path of Love will always lead to Christ and what He did at Calvary. For Christ, the Path to the Cross was a Path of Suffering and Shame. The Cross is the Path to Salvation for all who believe in Him.
The Path of Love leads us to the Throne Room of God where we can come boldly before Him in the time of need. For us, it is a Path of self-denial and humility. Loving God, loving the Brethren and loving others is the highest calling we can obtain.
As we walk the PATH OF GOD’S LOVE, His Love constrains and compels us to “love one another.” We are made complete in His love when we determine that we are going to walk down this Path with Him. God has promised to give us the desires of our heart when we seek Him with all diligence. Christ becomes the desire of our heart when we realize the greatest gift we can obtain is the gift of HIS LOVE.
When we walk the PATH LEAST TRAVELED, we become Samaritans along the Jericho Road. We will help others along the way who have been victimized by the evil intentions and attacks of the enemy. As we go into all the World and share the Gospel of the Kingdom of God with those who do not know Him, we are fulfilling the GREAT COMMISION.
LOVE seeks not its own, but the welfare and wellbeing of others. LOVE seeks no reward of its own, but seeks to establish God’s Love and Righteousness in others. True Love is more than just an emotion. True Love is something that becomes a daily lifestyle as we walk the PATH LEAST TRAVELED.
The Bible states that “GOD IS LOVE.” Unlike man, God’s Love is unconditional. It does not seek the approval or affections of anyone else. God’s Love is not a sensuous type of love which the world embraces, but a self-denial type of love. His Love is rooted in Grace and Mercy.
GRACE and MERCY sit on the THRONE OF LOVE. God has placed His Love in our hearts. LIVING WATERS will flow from a heart full of LOVE if we are rooted and grounded in Christ. His LOVE always looks for an opportunity to display GRACE and MERCY. LOVE IS OPTIMISTIC. LOVE IS KIND. LOVE REJOICES IN TRUTH. LOVE NEVER FAILS. 1 Corinthians, Chapter 13, Verses 4- 8.