Avoid Shortcuts

For the third test, the Devil took him to the peak of a huge mountain. He gestured expansively, pointing out all the earth’s kingdoms, how glorious they all were. Then he said, “They’re yours—lock, stock, and barrel. Just go down on your knees and worship me, and they’re yours.”

(Matthew 4:8-9)

This might sound shocking to some, but I really don’t like shortcuts. I find that they require too many twists and turns. And I especially wouldn’t want to take a shortcut on a snowy day because these routes are the least likely to get plowed (and sometimes they really don’t). I enjoy the longer routes because I get to enjoy all the beautiful sights that I would otherwise miss if I took the “shorter route.”

In the temptations or tests of Jesus, we find that the Devil was offering Him shortcuts. After the fall of the first man, Adam, the second man, Jesus, came to restore what was lost. The only way Jesus was going to do that was through His death on the cross. To avoid the pain and suffering, the Devil suggests that Jesus need only go on His knees and worship him. Of course, Jesus refuses this shortcut because He knows that that’s not the way God would have Him win our salvation. I’m so thankful that Jesus didn’t take shortcuts because we wouldn’t have His whole life, death and resurrection to look forward to and draw upon.

After finding out my age, a Christian woman once asked me when I was going to go online and create a dating profile. In other words, “What are you still waiting for, get online and find someone.” I’m sure she meant well, but the more she tried to convince me to go online, the more I tried to persuade her to find love offline (didn’t I tell you that I don’t like shortcuts?).

Many people enjoy shortcuts. They would much rather take the short, boring route than drive on the long, beautiful one. It might look like they’ve saved themselves a lot of time getting to where they want to be in life, but in reality, they’ve missed out on the excitement along the way to get there.

Avoid shortcuts. God wants you to enjoy and live your life to the fullest.