The Christian Life has often been described as taking the narrow path. As we walk the road of life, we as Christians will inevitably find ourselves at intersections where two different paths cross. These intersections many times represent defining moments where decisions are made and the significance of our decisions can have lifelong consequences.
In John Bunyan’s famous allegory Pilgrim's Progress, the main character Christian tells a story he once heard about a man named Little Faith. Little Faith was from the town of Sincere, and he was traveling on the narrow path to the Celestial City. Little Faith came to an intersection where the narrow path crossed Dead Man’s Lane, which was a lane that connected to the Broad Path. At this dangerous intersection Little Faith falls asleep, and is quickly assaulted by three thieves named Faint Heart, Mistrust, and Grief. They take Little Faith’s money and leave him for dead. Thankfully for Little Faith these thieves hear word that the person named Great Grace may be approaching the intersection, and the thieves scatter.
This small portion of Bunyan’s allegory on Little Faith highlights the significance of the intersection. Little Faith’s experience at the intersection of the narrow path and the broad path can help us as we navigate through the intersections in our lives. So what can we learn from Little Faith?
Little Faith fell asleep at the intersection. Intersections are busy places where people are making different decisions about which direction they will travel. Falling asleep at an intersection will almost certainly lead to disaster. It is at the intersections that we need more than ever to be alert, and to know the direction we are traveling. Over twenty times in the New Testament, Christians are urged to be alert. 1 Peter 5:8 says it the best when we are instructed to, “be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” When Little Faith falls asleep at the intersection, the brothers Faint Heart, Mistrust, and Guilt come sprinting towards him to rob him of his money. These same allegorical brothers have robbed many travelers who have fallen asleep at the intersections of life where important decisions are made. They are like the roaring lions who pounce on Christians when we are not alert. The brothers stole Little Faith’s money at the intersection, and they can steal our joy, peace, contentment, and many other things of value.
Making last second decisions at the intersection about our direction can cause trouble and leave people injured. We must know our direction as we approach the crossing paths and show resolve to stay the course. Maybe no one understood the importance of this principle better than Daniel in the Old Testament. Daniel resolved or made his mind up beforehand not to defile himself at the King’s table. Daniel was not only alert when his path crossed the broad path of the Babylonians, but he planned for the intersection and showed resolve when his faith was tested.
Finally, we learn from Little Faith the importance of not traveling through dangerous intersections alone. Little Faith was in no position to defend himself against the three brothers of Faint Heart, Mistrust, and Guilt. Three to one is not good odds for a battle. As mentioned earlier, we learn from the allegory that these three brothers finally leave Little Faith because they are afraid of a regular traveler on the narrow path named Great Grace from the city of Good confidence. If Little Faith had been traveling with Great Grace then his chances of falling asleep at the intersection would diminish. True Christian friends will help keep us alert at the intersections of life, and will provide guidance on the narrow path. Proverbs 27:8 reminds us, “The sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.”
While these truths are clear and obvious when we are traveling on physical roads or paths, we can overlook these same principles of the intersection in our spiritual lives. The spiritual laziness and the busyness of life can often distract Christians so we are unprepared to face the intersections of this life. May we learn from Bunyan’s Character Little Faith, and remain steadfast on the narrow path our Savior has called us to travel.
