Several years ago my brother went to a store to buy his wife a pair of gloves for Christmas. As he looked through the rack, he asked the sales clerk what kind of gloves were the best selling ones of the season. "Oh, those would be the fox fur gloves we have over here," she said as she lead him toward a different rack. "You'll really like these; besides, they are cheaper than the ones you were just looking at." As they made their way to the other rack of gloves, she commented that she was surprised they could sell fox fur gloves for cheaper than the ones lined with rabbit fur. When they got to the rack of gloves my brother read the sign above the display with a grin - "Faux Fur Gloves - $9.99 / Pair."

People have been selling cheap imitations for thousands of years. When you are walking down 5th Avenue and someone opens a briefcase and shows you a Rolex watch for $29.00, you can be sure it wasn't manufactured in Switzerland. A boy in my youth group bought one once, and the minute hand fell off three days later. Quality is best demonstrated by longevity, as Patek Philippe knows. Watch connoisseurs are in agreement that this Swiss manufacturer rules the roost. These watches generally cost about $100,000.00, which is why their advertising line is, "You don't actually ever own a Patek Philippe, you just hold on to it for the next generation." Their minute hands don't fall off.

Cheap imitations aren't limited to physical goods. Jesus told us that when it comes to eternal life there are two options - the cheap imitation and the genuine article. The genuine article involves a very narrow road that relatively few people find. Establishing that way was a very costly ordeal, but you don't have to worry about being disappointed with it three days later. It leads to eternal life.

The cheap imitation is a broad road that lots of people choose. They choose it because it doesn't cost them very much. What is particularly sad about this is that unlike imitation Rolex watches and fox fur gloves, choosing this path leads to much more than disappointment in being taken in by a slick imposter. This road leads to eternal destruction.

How does one know the narrow road is the genuine article? In early April each year, travelers on the narrow road celebrate Resurrection Day. They have celebrated it for nearly 2000 years now. Talk about longevity! When Jesus demonstrated power over the grave, He was giving demonstrable, irrefutable proof of His saving power.

If you have been duped and are on the broad path, swallow your pride and choose instead the narrow path. The true fool is not the one who buys fox fur gloves, we've all "been had" before. The true fool is the one who buys the fox fur gloves, and even after having his error pointed out, is too proud to admit his mistake.

Let this kind of thinking fill your mind this Easter season: "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.