In 1920 the famous poet Robert Frost (1874–1963), wrote a captivating poem titled “The Road Not Taken.” In it he described how, while journeying on a road in the woods, he came across a location where it divided into two. Wondering which route he should take, he finally chose the “one less traveled by” and in doing so, found that it “made all the difference.” 

What if you faced this identical situation spiritually? Imagine, for instance, that while you are journeying down the road of life you encounter a place where it splits in two. At this point you need to stop and push open one of two gates in order to continue your travels. You find that the first gate is very narrow and appears to be difficult to squeeze through. In addition, the road behind this gate seems nearly unused—being rough, rocky and filled with thickets, brambles and overgrowth. By contrast, the second gate is very wide and the road behind it appears to be extremely spacious and without impediments. 

Which spiritual gate would you choose? And more importantly, which one would Jesus Christ want you to select? The Bible records His answer which is to, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it” (Matthew 7:13, emphasis added throughout).  

The way that leads to life

What more did Jesus reveal about why He would like you to squeeze through the tight, constricted gate and then traverse the rugged, arduous roadway behind it? He said, “But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:14, Berean Study Bible). 

But why do only a few people decide that the difficult, demanding “way that leads to life” is worth its trouble, strain and adversity—whereas most others do not? Because while the majority are immersed in temporary, self-centered material goals and concerns, the few are focused on the future with its spiritual “prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14, English Standard Version). In doing so they place their full trust in God and His Word, the Bible, while anticipating an exhilarating time to come filled with irrepressible joy and wonderful opportunities for themselves and all humanity (Hebrews 11:10; 13:14; Psalm 16:11).  

On the other hand, what results when a person travels the broad, easy way of pursuing his or her own earthly desires and proclivities? Jesus said, “He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matthew 10:39). In other words, if someone lives their life caring only about their own interests and pleasures, they will lose out on the unparalleled gift of everlasting life (Romans 6:23). This includes the amazing prospect of helping Jesus Christ govern the glorious Kingdom of God on earth following His second coming when “the knowledge of the Lord” will cover the world as water fills the oceans (Revelation 20:4; Isaiah 11:6-9). 

Changing your way of thinking

So all of this comes down to you and the choice before you right now. If you sincerely desire to take “the road less traveled,” what must you do? As in any important decision, it is vital to “count the cost” so you will be able to finish what you start (Luke 14:28). To complete your spiritual journey successfully, you will first need to repent of—meaning to turn from—sin, which is the breaking of God’s laws (1 John 3:4). Then you must be baptized and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands of God’s true ministers (Acts 2:38; 3:19; 8:14-18). Also, you need to cultivate a deep, personal relationship with Jesus Christ and God the Father through daily prayer and Bible study (John 3:16).  

As a result of following these steps, the power of God’s Spirit within you begins to “change your way of thinking and make you into a new person” (Ephesians 4:23-24, Contemporary English Version). Furthermore, journeying “on the road less traveled” requires self-sacrifice, humility and a sincere willingness to serve others. The apostle Paul wrote, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3, Berean Study Bible). 

All of the above is what Jesus Christ wants you to do so that your mind and heart can be completely renewed and refreshed (Ephesians 4:23). Having God’s Spirit at work in you gives you remarkable divine strength and the capability “to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect” (Romans 12:2, New Living Translation). 

In addition, God’s way of life includes loving and obeying His commandments (Psalm 119:97; 1 John 5:3). Doing so provides you with countless blessings including splendid peace of mind (Philippians 4:7). “But if you look closely into the perfect law that sets people free, and keep on paying attention to it and do not simply listen and then forget it, but put it into practice—you will be blessed by God in what you do” (James 1:25, Good News Translation).  

This stands in contrast to the self-centered, disobedient, human way of life which has, throughout the centuries, bequeathed people with heartache, anxiety, distress, pain, suffering and death (Romans 2:9; 6:16, 23). The apostle John wrote, “For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world” (1 John 2:16). When considering all of the above, the choice should be clear. The wide road of focusing exclusively on one’s own physical life, with its interests and endeavors, leads spiritually nowhere. Conversely the rough, difficult, nearly-unused spiritual “road less traveled” guides you to a radiant eternal future filled with exciting opportunities and undreamed of joy and fulfillment (John 15:11). 

A marvelous future lies ahead

So, you have an amazing future before you if you choose “the road that leads to life” and follow it fully and faithfully. But does this mean you won’t face troubles in your physical life now? No, it doesn’t. Nevertheless, as Romans 8:18 says that, “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Furthermore the next verse explains what lies ahead. “For the creation waits with eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed” (Romans 8:19, New Heart English Bible). What better or exciting promise can you have than to become one of God’s very own divine children (2 Corinthians 6:18)? 

Finally, in the last stanza of Robert Frost’s poem he stated, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” Are you willing to journey on the arduous spiritual road—the one less traveled? If so, you will find that it will make all the difference because it will lead you to glorious everlasting life and remarkable opportunities in God’s spectacular, soon-coming, divine kingdom and family (Matthew 7:14)!