A popular western song is titled, Don’t Fence Me In.Recorded by Roy Rogers, Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, Frankie Laine, and probably many others, it echoed the American spirit. It’s the voice of a man who wants to be free to roam wherever he pleases. Don’t we all want that kind of freedom?

The song was written in 1934, so most of you won’t know it. But the words came to mind as I studied my memory verse in the Bible, today. John 14:6.
Many of us can identify with the sentiment of not wanting to be restricted. But we discover it’s necessary to ultimately make the choice of one path. In making that choice, we hand over the controls of life to another. There is one who needs to be in control. One who guides us to the correct destination.

In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (ESV)

That way is narrow and doesn’t allow for wandering. You might say it is fenced in. Jesus welcomes all on the path, but we must choose to follow him only. We can’t follow two paths, or select attractive bits from multiple systems. We acknowledge the one path that will take us home.

God was firm in Isaiah 42:8. He said LORD was his name. He wouldn’t share his glory or praise with anyone or anything. God’s plan of redemption is through Jesus Christ, no other.

**** In preparation for a road trip, I’d printed directions from a computer mapping site. My friend brought along a small GPS unit. On the road, we used both systems, taking a turn from one and then from the other. This was our mistake, made perfectly clear when we became hopelessly lost. We discovered the map was taking us on one path, while the GPS unit directed us along a different route.
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In this illustration, both systems would have gotten us to our destination—if we’d used only one. With more research beforehand, we might have chosen the best.


The Bible tells us this isn’t true of the path to eternal life. There’s no other path. Choose to follow Jesus. Don’t add to his word. Don’t look elsewhere for attractive alternatives. Luke 16:13 and Matthew 6:24 make it clear that if we divide our faith, we’re heading for disaster. Make the choice. Let it fulfill all your needs.