Are You on the Right Road?

"Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it" (Matthew 7:13-14)

Few things are more frustrating, and at times more terrifying, than to find yourself on the wrong road while traveling! Maybe you know the feeling, beloved. You made a wrong turn somewhere, got off on the wrong exit and now you are on a road that leads to...well, you're not sure where it leads!

Did you know that this very scenario is played out every day, not just on the highways of the world, but spiritually in the lives of people everywhere? Jesus said that there is a road that is traveled by many which is plainly and simply the wrong road. As we return this week to the consideration we began last time of two very familiar verses of Scripture, we recall that one road described by Jesus is accessible by a gate that is very "wide," while the other choice is reached by a gate that is very "small." For a refresher on what we considered last week, may I suggest that you check out the devotional here that precedes this one?

In our focal verses, we find Jesus declaring first that the "wide" gate leads to a "broad" way. Isn't it fascinating that this first gate should enter to its own "Broadway" considering our own knowledge of that well-known American street in New York City? And why would such a road be so "broad" as Jesus has described it? I personally believe that one reason for its generous width must surely be because no standard of living exists to hem in the traveler's lifestyle. On the devil's "Broadway," beloved, every person will live by his own self-imposed moral or immoral standard. These life-travelers will be much like the ancient Hebrews during the oversight of the judges of Israel and about whom the Scriptures record:

"In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 17:6)

Surely another reason why this "broad" way will be so, beloved, is because there are so many worldly enticements to stop the traveler along the way. With few standards of moral conduct in place, the simple fact is that most any lifestyle is permissible and even encouraged. Recall what the Apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Rome regarding circumstances of that day:

"And, although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them" (Romans 1:32)

Specifically Paul had just been writing to them about the sexual perversions of the day so familiar to them, beloved, and followed it by stating that men not only practiced such abominations, but even encouraged others to do the same! How much like our own society today does this sound? Very simply, the general attitude on the "broad" way is that if enough people are doing it there must be nothing wrong with it!

By contrast, Jesus also described the way which can be entered by the gate that is "small" and said that it is a "narrow" path to travel. But why would it be narrow? I personally believe that it is narrow first of all because the only standard of conduct present is the holiness of God Himself. There simply is no room for the world's indulgences on this road, beloved! This way will be traveled solely by those who have chosen to turn away from sin and to Jesus Christ in faith, those who desire more than anything else to live in a manner that is pleasing to God.

But another reason surely why this road is "narrow" is because the traveler here has but one focus in life. The one entering upon this path by the "small" gate is the one whose gaze is fixed solidly upon the Lord Jesus Christ. This, then, will be the highway of self-denial and not of self-indulgence. With the Apostle Paul these travelers are those who "press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13-14)

Which road are you traveling at this very moment, beloved? Is it the "Broadway" of a lost world or the "narrow" way of a risen Savior? Can we say with W. Elmo Mercer in his beautiful hymn?

"Each step I take I know that He will guide me,
To higher ground He ever leads me on;
Until some day the last step will be taken,
Each step I take just leads me closer home"

Ron

Squeezing through the Turnstile

"Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it" (Matthew 7:13-14)

These are among some of the most sobering words ever spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ during His ministry on earth, beloved! And their importance to all of us today is the very reason I want to take the time over the next several editions of these weekly devotionals to share with you just how critical they are to us. In Jesus' words we find essentially four key elements present: the gate entered, the road walked, the destination reached, and the travelers present. Let's begin this week just by looking at what Jesus said about the "gate" that is chosen by every man.

Note first here that Jesus declared that one of the two gates which man will choose is "wide." I would like to share with you some reasons for such a wide gate. One reason is certainly because the road to which it leads is meant to accommodate the largest crowd possible. Satan's desire is simply that as many as possible choose this gate and enter the road to which it leads. Yet even as he does everything possible to make that happen, he is fully aware that God by contrast does not want anyone to choose the gate that is "wide":

"The Lord is not slow about His promises, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9)

And another reason why this gate is so "wide" is that it is also meant to attract the largest crowd possible. There must be plenty of room for Satan's enticements and his "toys," each of these strategically placed along the way so as to catch the eye of the self-seeking and the self-serving who travel here.

By contrast, however, Jesus next declared that the other gate available for entering is "small." Why would it be small in contrast to one that is wide? What would be the sense in that? I believe that one reason why this gate is "small" is because Jesus Christ is the only way to God the Father. Jesus made this point clear again and again to His listeners:

"Jesus said to them, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me'" (John 14:6)

Thus, this gate is not small because God is limited in any way, beloved, but because there is only one way to eternal life! This is a message that needs desperately to be told again and again to a lost world.

This gate is "small" for another reason as well. It is so because each person must choose to enter by himself. There simply is no such thing as "mass" evangelism or corporate salvation! Each of us must choose for himself which gate he will enter, and only for himself. We must enter by faith, putting our trust in Jesus Christ. to save us.

Finally, this gate is surely "small" because we can take nothing of this present life into it as we enter. I recall the narrow turnstiles on the Metro system in New York City and how you would have to turn sideways to squeeze through to the platform on the other side. We cannot take with us any of our sinful practices or worldly entertainments or good works in which we may have trusted beforehand. Nor can we take with us even our our personal agenda for how we will live our lives.

Jesus said concerning the gates before every man, beloved, that one is "wide" and the other is "small." Which gate have you entered? Which road are you traveling? Scripture urges us to examine ourselves to be sure that we are in the faith. And if you are saved, what of those whom you know and about whom you care? Are you seeking to influence their choice of a gate in order to insure that they find the way to eternal life?

Ron

Living within the Presence of God

"Then Elisha prayed and said, 'O Lord, open his eyes that he may see.' And the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha" (2 Kings 6:17)

It is one of the most beautiful and exciting scenes in the life of the mighty prophet Elisha, beloved, and what a "made for television" movie it would make! Elisha, prophet of Israel, with his servant surrounded by the powerful army of Syria and about to be taken captive because the king was afraid of the man of God. Yet in the midst of it all, the prophet remained at peace, non-flustered, and totally trusting God. In fact, he was so trusting in Jehovah that he was able to pray for his servant to be able to "see" with his physical eyesight what he knew in his heart to be there. And it was in response to Elisha's intercession that God opened the eyes of the servant and caused him to stand visibly within His divine presence as the hosts of heaven surrounded them both with horses and chariots of fire even as the menacing Syrian army advanced toward them.

Do we as followers of Jesus Christ today in actuality and with assurance of our own faith live within the presence of God? I am not talking about being able to see angels with our physical eyesight as if that is some kind of "proof" of our trust in God, but do we face life with the same peace and steadfastness with which Elisha faced their circumstance on that day? Not only do I believe that we can and should, but I believe that as Christians we must if we are going to impact our world for the cause of Jesus Christ. Whereas his servant could see only the Syrians, Elisha saw with the eyes of faith the divine presence of God in that place and his heart was at rest. In fact, it was at rest enough for him to tell his servant that they had the Syrians outnumbered - "those who are with us are more than those who are with them" (v.16)!

I believe that the first lesson we can learn from Elisha, beloved, is that we must truly desire the presence of God in our lives. We must long more than anything to stand and move in His presence and be guided by His Spirit each and every day.

And when we have come to desire His presence, we will then be enabled to discern the presence of God. We will know that He is with us every second of every day, leading us through every situation in life that His precious will and purpose may lead our way.

Once we are able to discern Him with us, we will choose to depend upon the presence of God. We will as Elisha did conduct our lives within the power of His presence and exercise true faith in every thought, word, and deed.

And when we have come to daily depend upon that presence, we will finally be able to demonstrate the presence of God to this world in which we live. We will be empowered to impact upon those who are closest to us and who know us best.

How well can you "see" with the eyes of faith today, beloved? Come what may, we've got them outnumbered! Glory to His name!

Ron

But God!

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:4-6)

Someone has wisely said that "good things come in small packages," beloved! That is certainly true when it comes to the Word of God. In some of the fewest words we often find the greatest promises. Consider with me, for example, the two words "But God." Do you recall the passage wherein God informed Abraham that he and his wife Sarah would become the parents of a son? In response, Abraham actually laughed at the prospect of a 100 year old man and his 90 year old wife creating a child of their own. Abraham then offered to God what was to him a much more realistic prospect: "Oh, that Ishmael might live before you!" In reply, we find the following glorious promise of the Most High God:

"BUT GOD said, 'No, but Sarah your wife will bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him'" (Genesis 17:19)

And what about when Joseph in Egypt confronted his brothers who had sold him into slavery? With their lives quite literally in his hands, Joseph made the following astounding revelation to them:

"But Joseph said to them, 'Do not be afraid, for am I in God's place? As for you, you meant evil against me, BUT GOD meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive'" (Genesis 50:19-20)

Further, who does not recall Jesus' story of the rich farmer who wanted to tear down his barns and build bigger ones, to take his ease in luxury for the rest of his life? Jesus' words that follow are sobering for the self-focused heart!

"BUT GOD said to him, 'You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?'" (Luke 12:20)

Obviously the "But God" statements of Scripture have much to reveal to us, beloved! Without a doubt, the most meaningful and powerful of them all, however, has to be that one found in our focal verses here. Paul had just told the Ephesians how we all at one time were under God's judgment as "children of wrath" with no hope of our own that could possibly deter God's wrath against our sinfulness. Then he followed up that graphic statement with the most beautiful promise the ears of man could ever hear!

"BUT GOD, being rich in mercy"

No promise of Scripture is more glorious than to know that God is rich in mercy toward us in the person of Jesus Christ. In that mercy He made us alive together in Christ, He adopted us into His own divine family, He cleansed us and forgave us for every wrongdoing, and He has sealed us forever unto eternal life. And it all began with two words - BUT GOD!

Ron