September 9, 2013

Matthew 7:13, 14 — 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.

There are so many times when the path ahead seems hidden. We look into the future and can see only an impenetrable fog. Then, all too often, we invent our own view of what’s ahead. We fall into some serious mistakes!
First, we assume that we have some kind of right to know what is ahead. There is a terrible pride hidden in the assumption. Do we really think we should know as much as God does?
Second, we find it easier to imagine problems than opportunities. We forget that whatever it is we can trust God to make it work for our good. (I’m assuming that you’re a Christian. If you’re not, we need to have a different discussion.)
Third, once we’ve formed our view of the future, we have a nasty habit of taking the steps that might turn it into reality. Then when the thing that we fear happens we say “look what God has let happen” instead of “now look what I’ve got myself into!”
If you are like me, none of this is news. Like me, sometimes you fall into the trap of focusing on the next stop instead of the end of the journey. I’m going to suggest that, instead of making the three mistakes I’ve described above, we consider three different things. Where we have come from, where we are going, and how we are going to get there?
First, “Where have we come from?” I can answer that question in two ways. I was created by God for His purposes, and I’ve been in some pretty rough places. Before I knew God my life was a mess and even since then I have got myself into difficulties when I focused on the wrong things!
Second, “Where are we going?” Not, “Where are we going next?” but “What’s the final destination?” I believe that, no matter what happens on the way, the final destination is eternal life — or its opposite. I believe God’s promise that, having accepted His Son as my Lord and Savior, my final destination is the preferred one!
Third, “How are we going to get there?” This might be the most important question of all. Am I going to go my own way … it seems easy … to take the steps that “make sense” to me and hope the destination is what I want? Am I going to pick the harder option and keep doing my best to do the right thing, and follow Jesus knowing that however unclear the steps, the destination is sure?
I have decided to follow Jesus … or as that great old pilgrim John Bunyan said:

He who would valiant be ‘gainst all disaster, let him in constancy follow the Master.
There’s no discouragement shall make him once relent his first avowed intent to be a pilgrim.

I know I’ll keep slipping back, and focusing on the wrong things. But I aim to keep reminding myself, and to keep “seeking the narrow gate”. How about you?