The Road - A Story Told In Four Parts

[Jerry]

Here is one of my earlier Christian poems told in the form of a story. Perhaps it will cause someone else to think about what road they are on in life: the Broad Way or the Narrow Way. If you are not sure you what road you are on, please make sure you are on the Narrow Road by trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ alone for salvation.

The Road – Part One
The Rearview Mirror

There’s a little Narrow Road that leads to life.
You drive on past and say, “This is nice.
This wide eight-laned Highway is just great!”
Shifting gears, you speed on past the Narrow Gate.

You head off into the distance,
Down this winding Highway;
On the roadside a sign is posted –
What does it say?

“Destruction Ahead.”
Boy, you think, someone can’t spell.
This road is paved much too smoothly
To lead anyone to Hell.

You glance quickly into your rearview mirror,
But the Narrow Road can no longer be seen.
With your foot on the gas pedal,
You pour on the power to this pleasure machine.

This is so perfect – this life, you think,
Giving no thought to Him,
So many roadside attractions
Catering to your every whim…

The Road – Part Two
The Crash

So many drug-filled days
And pleasure-filled nights,
You’re so blinded by the darkness,
You can’t even see the Light.

You’ve been on this Highway so long,
But the days are all the same,
You sample more perverse pursuits
To try to deaden the pain.

Suddenly, on the side of the road
You see an awful flash.
One of those pleasure mobiles
Has started to crash.

A terrible ball of fire,
An intense wave of heat,
Then a bright vehicle pulls over –
So shiny and sleek.

A heavenly being slowly steps out;
He seems to be glowing from within.
He pulls open the door of the wreckage,
And takes the shaking driver with him.

For a second, you glimpse the driver’s face,
But you can’t understand the awful look of fright.
The heavenly being was so beautiful –
Who could ever be afraid of an Angel of Light?

You hear a hoarse scream
As they drive out of sight,
Disappearing forever
Into the darkest night.

The Road – Part Three
The Stranger

Somehow, this life doesn’t fill you –
It leaves you hungry and cold;
Thirsting for something more,
Yet feeling empty and old.

You’ve tried everything life has to offer,
But nothing really satisfies;
Vanity of vanities,
This whole world is filled with lies!

Without hope, you drive slower…
It’s hard to steer with these tears in your eyes.

Ahead, you see a Man standing by the roadside,
Shouting, “Come buy and eat. Living Water for sale.”
Your mind screams to drive on by,
But the aching hunger prevails.

When you approach The Stranger, He says,
“What I offer is free.” In His hand is a glass.
But before you can sip the cool liquid,
He has something to ask.

“Are you willing to come to Me,
And from evil refrain?
If you drink this cup that I give you,
You need never thirst again.”

“For this Water of Life
Someone had to die.
It was bought with a price –
That price was I.”

“If you take My yoke upon you,
You’ll find that My burden is light.
You must depart from your sinful ways,
And turn away from the night.”

In your mind’s eye you can see
Three crosses standing on a hill;
And hear the middle Man shouting,
“It is finished!” and then all is still.

Three dark days later,
In the early morning gloom,
You see that the stone is rolled away
From Jesus’ empty tomb.

“He is not here… He is risen,”
A voice suddenly cries;
You then turn to meet The Stranger
With a startled look of surprise.

The Road – Part Four
The Narrow Gate

You accept The Stranger’s offer,
Trusting in His sacrifice by faith;
Believing He alone is the Saviour,
And that He died in your place.

His blood has cleansed you forever,
And wiped all your sin away;
Out of gratitude and love,
You start down the Narrow Way.

You leave the Broad Highway –
Now it no longer beckons to you.
As you walk through the Narrow Gate,
You see a wonderful view:

Not a Road strewn with roses;
Instead, it’s filled with trials and pain,
But there’s hope in the midst of it all,
Peace and joy again.

You look for the Lord Jesus,
And see He is walking there beside you.
You grasp His nail-scarred hands,
And whisper, “Thank you.”

August 31/1995
Jerry Bouey

Ecclesiastes 1:2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

Matthew 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Isaiah 55:1-3 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

John 4:13-14 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.