Will I choose the easy way or the hard way?
There are only two choices.
Matthew 7:13-14 Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
Thankfully this is very clear. Jesus is speaking.
Wide gate = easy
leads to destruction
many enter
Narrow gate = hard
leads to life
few find it
Interestingly, the verse tells you which path to take before it describes each one. And it states it simply. I just find that intriguing. I am sure there’s a reason. Assumedly, once you read the outcomes of each gate, you would know the gate to choose. So why say it up front? I really don’t know the answer, but perhaps it may come as I write more of this entry.
And it is thought provoking (example of what a thesaurus can do)(insert smile here), that the wide gate is described first. Because the command of Jesus starts with the narrow gate. But then the wide gate is addressed first. Perhaps that’s because if we read the narrow gate description first, then maybe we wouldn’t bother to read the wide gate one after it. And then we would miss reading the consequences that come with the wide gate.
Because everyone thinks they would choose the narrow gate. But Jesus denounces that assumption. Jesus says few find the narrow gate and many enter the wide gate. So even though we think we would choose the narrow, apparently we do not. Quite the opposite is true. Most will choose the easy path leading to destruction.
It’s also fascinating to me that when Jesus describes the gates, one gate is found and one gate is entered. All of Scripture is written precisely and without error. Perhaps these verses are referring to us finding Jesus as He draws us to Him? And to our responding by faith in Jesus as our Savior who is the narrow gate? And without accepting Jesus as the way, then one is entering the wide path of destruction.
John 14: 5-6 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me
I have made the choice to be saved through my faith and trust in Jesus as God’s only son alone as the way to heaven. To be saved by Jesus’s death and resurrection for me for the forgiveness and payment of my sins. To have eternal life with God in heaven. There’s no choice more important one could make. I pray that if you’ve not made the choice of Jesus as your Savior, that you will. But for this entry, I’d like to approach the verse in my daily walk with God. In the decisions I make to follow God or not. There are only two options.
So which way will I choose? The easy way or the hard way?
I’d like to think in my daily walk with God, that I’m choosing the hard way. I am a believer. I love God. I want to follow God. But what I think I am choosing may not be what I am choosing in my actions, decisions, and even thoughts. It is a battle for me to choose God. Each decision. Each thought. To choose God’s ways and commands to me. It IS hard. Excruciatingly hard at times. Praise Jesus for his grace and mercy and forgiveness. Literally.
John 10: 27-28 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
To be clear, when I do choose the easy way and go against God, I do NOT lose my salvation. Praise Jesus the bible is very clear on that not being possible as you can see in verse above. Because unfortunately, I do choose not to follow God sometimes. I do choose to follow myself and be in the world. I do give into temptation. I do follow my own sinful nature. I have many entries with words of following Me, Me, Me…
Sadly, when I can’t see what God has next on his path for me…I get scared and I want my own path. The path I’ve been comfortable with most of my life. Where I can plan for what’s next and prepare for it. It is a true battle at times to force myself to stay on God’s path and trust the outcomes of following Him. Because those outcomes are unknown. And that is very difficult for me. I let my pride take over and I want to live my life my way. I hate the unknown. But ultimately that is a lie I’ve let myself believe. The truth is, there is nothing more scary than the unknown I face when choosing to go against God. Going against God would mean I’m going with the enemy, and that path leads to destruction. That is true fear.
It all comes down to the battle of lies vs truth. Which one will I believe and follow? Maybe it’d be helpful to look at a comparison list (yes I just have to make a list)(insert smile here). And I’ll begin the list with the comparison Jesus makes in Matthew 7:13-14.
Narrow gate Wide gate
Hard Easy
Leads to life Leads to destruction
Few find it Many enter it
Truth Lies
Jesus Satan
Heaven Hell
Eternal Light Eternal darkness
Peace Fear
Joy Suffering
God’s glory God’s wrath
Only one way Many ways
Eternal Life Eternal Death
Praise you God for all you give us.
So perhaps I should change the title of this entry.
God, help me choose the hard way
So here it is.
Blog entry Twenty (a new number milestone!)
Follow God and Bake from your Heart,
Ellie