OPEN: This begins a series which we’re calling "Dr. Seuss and God". Dr. Seuss (actually Theodor Seuss Geisel) dedicated himself to writing simple, entertaining and thoughtful poems that used basic words children would understand. But every once in a while, Dr. Seuss would introduce what some people would consider nonsense words – like in his poem about the Zoad in the Road. But apparently, even this apparent non-sense word was deeply researched. Apparently, “Zoad” came from a Greek word that meant “stair step” or “ladder”… indicating a device people would use to get somewhere.
With that insight, consider Dr. Seuss’ poem: "The Zoad In The Road”:
Did I ever tell you about the young Zoad?
Who came to a sign at the fork of the road?
He looked one way and the other way too -
the Zoad had to make up his mind what to do.
Well, the Zoad scratched his head, and his chin, and his pants.
And he said to himself, "I’ll be taking a chance.
If I go to Place One, that place may be hot
So how will I know if I like it or not.
On the other hand, though, I’ll feel such a fool
If I go to Place Two and find it’s too cool
In that case I may catch a chill and turn blue.
So Place One may be best and not Place Two.
Play safe," cried the Zoad, "I’ll play safe, I’m no dunce.
I’ll simply start off to both places at once."
And that’s how the Zoad who would not take a chance
Went no place at all with a split in his pants.
APPLY: The poor Zoad couldn’t make up his mind which way to go.
So, he decided to not really MAKE a decision.
Instead, he tried to take BOTH roads at the same time.
He didn’t want to make a decision, so - in his indecision - he actually made a decision
Because he wouldn’t take a chance… he “went no place at all with a split in his pants.”
Have you ever had trouble making a decision?
I have!
But if the decision is important enough… I eventually I make a choice.
In the Bible, God is constantly telling His people to make a decision
In Joshua 24:15 Joshua challenged the Israelites to“… choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve... But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
A couple hundred years later, on Mount Carmel Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him….” 1Kings 18:21
Make up your mind!
Make a choice.
Make a decision.
Why? Because to decide not to decide… is to decide.
In today’s text, we find Jeremiah telling the people of Israel to make a decision:
"Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Just like the Zoad, God tells His people – you’re at a crossroads.
Make a decision.
Decide which road you’re going to choose because Eternity hangs on the choice you make.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus echoes Jeremiah’s words.
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)
There are 2 roads (He says) and you have a choice.
One road is wide and easy to travel- and lots of people choose this road
The other is narrow. It leads to life, but few seem to choose that path.
But Jesus says: Make a choice.
Make a decision.
Choose your road.
Now some people - like the Zoad - try to compromise.
The narrow road is too… (pause) narrow.
In fact the world has a phrase for that. They call this path “narrow-minded” because it’s intolerant. It’s too strict. A little of Jesus is a good thing, but it’s possible to be too moral. Too straight laced. Too pure. So, Loosen up, we’re told. Don’t be so serious. Mix a little worldliness in with your faith.
Take the broad way… in fact the world has a word for this too!
They call it “broadmindedness”.
It’s tolerant.
It’s accepting
ILLUS: Three years ago, the Barna research group took a survey of people in their 20 and 30’s.
They found that compared with those over age 40 this group was:
• twice as likely to have viewed sexually explicit movies or videos…
• 2.5 times more likely have slept with someone they weren’t married to;
• and 3 times more likely to have viewed sexually graphic content online
ADDITIONALLY
• 2/3’s of them viewed living together as being morally acceptable
• almost half them believed homosexual relationships were ok
• 70% believed that morality was flexible… no moral absolutes.
(Barna Update 10.31.06)
Their view of morality was: “take the broad way… go for the big gate. Don’t be so narrow-minded. Don’t go for such hard choices… just go with the flow and God (if He exists) will understand.”
Even Christians can get caught up in this thinking.
They’ll go to parties drink with “the boys” (or “the Girls”).
They’ll cuss, and laugh at the dirty jokes just to fit in.
They’ll sleep with their girlfriends/boyfriends and say “it’s ok… we love each other. God will understand.”
Will He?
Consider what God tells us in II Corinthians 6:14-18
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people."
"Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you."
"I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."
Make a choice – God says.
Decide what you’re going to do.
You can choose life by walking on the narrow way… and please God.
OR you can be “broad minded” and end up going someplace you don’t want to go.
“You can’t serve two masters. (says Jesus) Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other...” Matt. 6:24
YOU’VE GOT MAKE A CHOICE
You can’t simply put it off and NOT make a decision.
If you do that… you’ll end up like the Zoad – not going anywhere (except to hell)
By choosing NOT to decide… you will have already decided.
But God says – make a choice: “… choose for yourselves THIS DAY whom you will serve.”
Don’t put it off.
Because in your decision… or lack thereof… is Eternity.
(pause)
As I said earlier, there are times when I have a hard time making a decision. The harder the choice, the harder it is for me – sometimes - to choose. And I can literally freeze up trying to make some decisions.
God knows that, so here in Jeremiah He tells us how to make the right choices.
1. Realize how important the decision is.
“Stand at the crossroads and look” God says. You’re at a crossroads. Realize you’ve got to make a decision - you can’t take both roads.
Now, sometimes it won’t be that hard to know which path is the right one.
The more you know God’s Word, the more time you spend in church and around other Christians, the more obvious THE RIGHT choice will be.
The problem often doesn’t lie in knowing which road is the right one.
The problem is facing the possibility that it isn’t going to be a fun trip.
You’ll risk being made fun of/ persecuted and rejected.
Jesus knew this, and so He told us
“Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.” Luke 6:22-23
The road can be hard… but the rewards will be worth it (Jesus says)
In our nation, students have been denied their graduation diplomas
… scientists have lost their jobs,
… beauty queens have lost their crowns
… politicians have been ridiculed and run out of office
… and businessmen/women have been taken to court…
All because they’ve taken a stand for God.
ILLUS: And we’ve got it easy.
I recently read about a preacher in Vietnam, who was sentenced to 2 years in prison. When he is offered an early release, he declined saying he had a group of new Believers in the prison he wanted to disciple.
In Columbia, a missionary was kidnapped and told she only had 2 hours to live. She told her captors that if she only has two hours to live, she wanted to spend it telling them about Jesus.
And in the Sudan, a Christian boy had his knees and feet nailed to a board and he is left to die. When rescued he said he forgave the man who did it because Jesus was also nailed and forgave those who did that to Him.
Don’t let anybody fool you into thinking this choice to serve Jesus is easy
Stand at the crossroads… and look around.
Count the cost. Know that it might get difficult.
It is a narrow road and there IS a reason why few choose it.
But also know that God is watching to see what you’ll do. And He’s watching with the desire to reward you if you make the right decision.
2. “Ask for the good road” says Jeremiah
Don’t just look at the roads… ask advice, because, sometimes the choice will be hard to figure out on your own.
ILLUS: I’ve encountered many ‘cross-roads’ in my life. I’ve Been fired from 2 churches… and right now I’ve got an issue that I find hard to solve.
Even though I’ve been a preacher for 25 years… I don’t’ always know what to do.
So I ask for advice
I go to friends/ experts/ people who’ve been where I’m at, and I ask “which path should I take? Which road is right one?”
Proverbs tells us: “Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.” 11:14
And again “Without counsel, plans go awry, But in the multitude of counselors they are established.” 15:22
There’s no shame in asking for directions.
Sometimes that’s the only way to know where you need to go.
But asking for advice is not enough. I’ve GOT to make a decision!
Jeremiah says “ask where the good way is, and WALK in it”
It’s not enough to simply SAY I want to walk with Jesus… I have to decide.
I can talk the talk all day - but until I walk the walk I’m not going anywhere.
And that’s the message from this Dr. Seuss poem “The Zoad on the Road”
The Zoad talked a good talk… but he didn’t walk the walk.
He’d come to a “crossroad” and couldn’t decide.
ILLUS: One preacher I read made an intriguing observation: Jeremiah says “Stand at the crossroad” and this preacher said: “for us it’s (quite literally) a ‘Cross’ road.”
He noted that back in the days of Christ:
“The throngs flocked to Jesus because He fed them, and they wanted to see signs and wonders. But when, He would not just give them what they “wanted” to see and hear they walked away.
He could have kept the crowds coming if he’d only given them excitement, entertainment, and intrigue but instead, He said, "take up the cross and follow me."
“It’s a ‘Cross’ road we are asked to trod.” (Larry Elder, sermoncentral.com)
In Matthew 16:24, 25 “Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.’”
The preacher I read had observed that lot of people often come to a “cross” in the road. The cross stands there in their path… and they know they’ve got to make a choice. They’ve got to make a decision because Jesus is right there in their path, and He’s asking them to pick up the cross and follow them.
But many people just stop right there.
They don’t pick up the cross.
They don’t walk down His path.
They just stand there like the Zoad in the Road and think God will be satisfied if they try to compromise.
But He won’t.
There’s only path that will lead to God, and Jesus said “I’m it!”
“I am the WAY the truth and the life”
And just as Jeremiah said - if Israel would only choose the right path and walk in it – they’d find rest, so also, Jesus says that if we’re willing to follow Him – we’d have rest in our lives.
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
But you have to choose the right path.
So, which path will you choose?
There is the “Broadminded path” which allows you to choose which part of Jesus you want. Not too much of Jesus. Just enough of Him to make us comfortable. But Proverbs says “there is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof is death”
And then there is the narrow path - the one few choose, because it seems “too narrow”.
But if you choose that path, it leads past the cross to that sign which leads to life.
CLOSE:
In the Alps, there is a religious pilgrimage called the “stations of the Cross”. Every year, thousands of people make this tedious climb up a mountain to visit different places that commemorate the various places where Jesus visited on the crucifixion march to Golgotha.
One day, a tourist made the climb, visiting every station along the path. But then, when he reached the station of the Cross, he noticed a little trail that led off in the bushes.
Curious, he fought his way through the rough thicket and to his surprise and came upon another shrine.
It was a shrine that symbolized the empty tomb. It was neglected. The brush had grown up around it. Almost everyone had gone only as far as the cross and that was where they stopped.
That’s what happens to too many people. They stop at the cross and go no further. They see Jesus crucified for them, but don’t really want to make the decision to follow Him.
What will you decide today?
