“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 find it” Matthew 7:13-14.
The ‘Narrow Way’ is the path the leads to LIFE… and DEATH. LIFE IN THE SPIRIT AND THE DEATH OF THE FLESH.
Today’s religious understanding of this passage could be summed up as… everyone who is in the Church is on the narrow way, while everyone in the world is on the broad way to destruction. That keeps things nice and tidy. We know who is who, and see no need for any further action on the part of those who are already in the Church, other than trying to get those who are not in… in.
O that we might grasp the simplicity of the Gospel of Christ… and be set free from our carnal, reasoning mind. Our hearts desire is to know God and to walk in the power of His Spirit. But even as the Spirit quickens the Living Word to our hearts, and illuminates our spiritual eyesight, carnal reasoning convinces us that we need to understand spiritual realities on a carnal level, in order that we may be able to ‘give an answer’ (1 Peter 3:15).
You see, there is nothing quite as sneaky as our ‘flesh.’ When it comes to dying to ‘self’… our flesh is supremely adaptable and creative. When it comes to justification for its thoughts, needs and desires, it will go to extremes to support why it must be nurtured and sustained at all costs. Our carnal reason screams, ‘you need me!... you can’t live without me!’ So we study the scriptures and gravitate towards those things that make sense to us. Relegating our ‘faith in all of God’s Words’ to us… to ‘as we understand them to mean.’
A statement like this immediately brings up defensive thoughts… “what are you saying? We can only walk in the light we have received after all.” Sound familiar?
All the while, the Spirit is patiently waiting for us to be willing to step out in faith, even when it makes no sense at all to our ‘reasoning mind.’
1 comments:
Good word Cathy!!
Both; "Seeing" the Kingdom and "Entering" the Kingdom requires a born again experience. However, for Christians, then, to not understand the distinction between "seeing" and "entering" has created a mine field of doctinal problems.
Indeed, this journey is on a narrow way to "the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" and is fraught with tribulation for sure. But... you're right, our flesh just don't want to hear it.
Keep up the good work in Christ.
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