A few years ago I climbed Ben Nevis. I followed the path. Up behind me came two young ladies: no backpack (like I did), no rain-coat (I did), great speed (I wasn’t slow, but…) and at one corner, I followed the path left and they headed right, down the valley and up the other side, rejoining the path a mile ahead of me. Meanwhile, my wife had taken the cable car up the neighbouring Aonach Mor.
Of course, a short-cut can be a cheat – using AI to write your essay, lying about (or killing) someone so you can have (their) promotion (or property). Bad do.
Which leaves us with hard choices: is this short-cut I see before me necessary (and good) or just plain bad?
Could we view Jesus as a short-cut? Rather than living a perfect life, I can participate in His perfect life; rather than dying for my own sins, I can participate in His death.
“Enter through the narrow gate” (Matthew 7:13) – maybe Jesus is a short-cut, but there are not short-cuts around him.
“I am the way” Jesus said (John 14:6), “Follow me” (Luke 18:22).
Raymond.