|
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for
wide is the gate, and broad is the way
that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that go in thereat. Mt7:13-14 This scripture is telling us quite plainly that the odds are against us. Many go to hell and few go to heaven. It is essential to our well being to be one of the few. In the parable of the sower, of four possible scenarios upon hearing the word of God, only one reaps a harvest. When the Jews were freed from Egypt and entered the desert, only two of upwards of three million first generation Jew entered the Promised Land, not even Moses. Only those born in the desert, living by faith, not contaminated by paganism, entered Canaan. Of the seven churches mentioned in Revelation, only two were in good standing with God. These are sobering statistics. The letter of Hebrews tells us “if today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” The world is becoming increasingly wicked and sinful and people are being led astray by false teaching and doctrine. Unless we separate ourselves from the ideology of the world and enter the strait and narrow gate, we will not be one of the few. Unless we hear the word of God and put it into practice, I repeat, and put it into practice, we are deceiving ourselves. Jesus tells us quite clearly, we must be born again, born of water and the Spirit. We must become new creatures in Christ so that the old will pass away. We must be blood washed and Spirit driven. We must obey the word of God and the inner witness of the Spirit. Unless we know the truth we will not be made free and only Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. So we must work out our salvation with fear and trembling and be still and know that Jesus is God. We must study the word to be approved of God, rightly dividing the word of truth. There is much to be done in order to beat the odds. It begins by asking Jesus into your heart and repenting of the sin in your life. It then becomes a life long process of working out what we learn from scripture, of loving our neighbor as yourself and loving God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength. In short we must make a full surrender to God and follow Christ. It is more than being a “good” person, believing that our own righteousness can save us. It is living by the righteousness of faith, the price paid on Calvary, and being a doer of the word. So beat the odds and begin to run the race and run, so as to win, not a corruptible crown, but an incorruptible crown. Begin to run now. Begin to run today. If you put it off, the inspiration will leave you. You will slip back to what is comfortable and natural and you will forgo the opportunity to enter into the spiritual. Slow down. Spend time in the quiet. Read the word of God. Pray often. Get off the treadmill of life and be at it for God. If you do, you will be one of the elect. You will beat the odds and spend eternity with God. Love never fails. Love God, love your neighbor, and love yourself by making Jesus the center of your life. amen |