Two

In the pages of scripture, it seems there are always two.

In Psalm 1, there are two paths—one for the righteous and one for the wicked.

In Deuteronomy 30:19, two choices—one for life and one for death.

In John 14:5-6, two attempts to be with the Father—one through Jesus that finds the Father and one without Jesus that doesn’t.

In Matthew 6:24, two masters—God and money, only one of which you can truly serve.

On and on it goes. Your God is a jealous God (Ex. 34:14). He is indeed the only way (Jn. 14:6). And yet, in a sign of His deep desire to be pursued by you, He has always provided you with a second choice. He could have simply set creation—including you—on autopilot and aimed you in the direction of the one true way.

But instead, He stands at the door and knocks (Rev. 3:20) and provides you with two choices. Because of His abundant patience, you may choose to turn a deaf ear to His knocking. He will not force His way in. But don’t let His patience be confused with the absence of consequence, because your decision to leave Him on the outside is a forfeiture of all that comes with choosing Him.

If you will incline your ear to His knocking and respond by opening the door to Him, you will have chosen the better way. The reward in the immediate is His lingering and abiding presence with you (“I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me”).

But my friend, there are also two distinctly different eternities based on this decision. A decision to leave Jesus on the outside looking in results in an eternity separated from Him (Matt. 13:42). A decision to open the door results in eternal life with Him (Jn. 3:16; 1 Jn. 2:25)!

The simplicity of it can cause us to forget the significance. It is tempting to overcomplicate it, making it unnecessarily difficult to attain.

But the truth is there are always two paths and two choices. But only one leads to life eternal and abundant. My friend, there are always two. But choose the one that leads to life!