“There are always two choices, two paths to take. One is easy, and its only reward is that it’s easy.”(quote from a book)
__________________________________________________________
For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it Matthew 7:14
I begin to see and understand that daily, there are two choices, two differing paths to journey on as we go through this life. The first path is broad and filled with lush green grass on either side and large beautiful trees that offer shade to its travelers. All along the path there are pleasant little shops that sell and provide us with “stuff” to make our journey that much more enjoyable. This “stuff” occupies our time and consumes our attention. The path itself is paved and promises a happy, carefree, and easy journey where all our greatest dreams can be fulfilled. On this path our senses are filled with pleasure and it appeals to ones flesh in every way. On this path my love for this world will never be challenged and it requires nothing from me. This path has a name, its called self life and on it there is no one to ever answer to... except self. Self is very happy and content on this path, it can give away affections to whom or whatever is pleasing, the idea of sacrifice or extending care of any kind to others is never required unless of course it makes self feel good. On this path I am master, I get to choose, I get to be in control, and I can do whatever I want to. This path has a dark side that many are blinded to, they don't see that it is filled with cracks, wholes, and large pitfalls that fill the way. They don't realize as they journey longer on the path and come nearer the end that the skies are getting darker and the beautiful light of the Son is withdrawing away from them. They are blinded to the gate at the end of this path and they allow themselves to be deceived. Their hearts are hardened as they fool themselves into believing that they have made a right decision to be on this path, they deny the destruction that awaits them and make merry as they journey onward all the while singing to the tune of self life. Their eyes are never opened to see who they truly are or the completely lost condition that they are in. There is no joy to be found at the end of this path, only suffering, separation and eternal darkness. This is the final reward of the easy path called self life.
Not far from me I see that there is another path, this path has been carved out for me by One who knew much pain, rejection, and suffering. He did not choose the easy way, His name is Jesus,and He alone bore the weight of the world and sacrificed of Himself to make this path for us. At the start of this path is a large cross and it carries with it death, Life, and the eye opening truth to examine ones own condition before God. As I begin my journey on this path I must willingly die to self, those who travel this way are commanded to repent and to flee from those sins that they once lived in. There must be a further willingness to surrender all, my will, my decisions, my desires, my hopes, my dreams, are no longer mine to control. My life in its entirety must be submitted onto the One who walked this path first. On this path the cares and the distractions of this world must be put to death, there can be no lingering attachments. As I look on ahead I see that it is not an easy path to take, there are many large boulders, deep valleys, and steep inclines to be over come. On this path a cross is mine to carry, it reminds me of the one that He first carried for me, it is a daily reminder that I must continue to die to those things that may tempt me off of the narrow path. Persecution, rejection and hatred by this world and those who love it are not only warned of but to be expected for those few who are willing to walk this way. The path is called surrendered life. There is much joy and peace for those who travel on this path, they do not travel alone. The One who made this path, He travels with us always, He strengthens us and helps us to carry our cross as we follow His lead. He guides us, and leads us through the deepest valleys and over the highest mountains. He has traveled this road before and He knows it well. There are many sharp and jagged obstacles in this path that must be overcome. To keep us from discouragement He gives us others, they are our brothers and sisters found in Him. They help us and together we carry one another burdens along the way. We journey on knowing, trusting in our hearts that the reward at the end is so much greater then any heartache we could ever come against in this life. Together we daily encourage each other to push forward, with our eyes always on Him who leads us. We rejoice, because often when times seem their darkest on this path and we feel as if we have no strength left to go on He is there carrying us through the greatest of storms. As we look back we realize it was because of Him only that we have come so far, in our own strength we would have failed, there would have been no hope. Over time as we journey on this path He gives us moments to pause and look around us, as we do, we see a world filled with darkness and those who are lost as we once were, those who have not come to this path. From time to time He brings some of these lost ones unto the same path that we are on and He fills our hearts with love for them and words to share with them. Sometimes these lost ones take the hand that is extended out to them and begin their own journey with Him, other times they slap it away and run back to the other path, rejecting Him and all that He has done for them. Near the end of our journey we find that there is a gate. It is a narrow gate and we know just as He told us that only a few will find it. Beyond the gate the light shines brightest and we feel its warmth as it surrounds us, in that moment when a fleeting thought enters into our mind “was it worth it?” We look to Him and we cry out with one voice “YES LORD!” because Your promise to us...an eternity with our beloved Jesus is beyond our wildest dreams. His grace His mercy, His love is beyond and unlike any we have ever known.
As I journey on this path I have come to a place where the Lord has brought me for His purpose and my benefit. I have seen that even while I am on this narrow path with Him, there is always a choice to be made, a choice whether I will hold firm to Him and continue on or if I will allow self to have its way and run to the easy path. If I take my eyes off of Him they will become clouded and darkened once again with the cares and distractions of this world. , The one thing I know to be true, there will never be a day when I don't need Christ. If I am to stay on this narrow path, He must be my Lord, He must call all the shots , He must have my complete devotion and willingness to obey in all things, or I am lost! I will never be so mature, or so wise as to have out grown my need of Him. There will never come a day that I will look to the heavens and declare, “now I get it and I can take it from here.” It just will not happen...Jesus is everything, He is Lord of my life and there can be no other way!
________________________________________________________
This was shared with me and I thought I would share it here.
God Bless
mj