Which Path are You Walking? "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
"Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." Romans 6:4To enter the kingdom we must begin life anew. The life we begin at physical birth is not enough to assure us a home with God in eternity. Jesus told Nicodemus "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3
We are born into this world pure and innocent. We continue in that condition until we reach the stage of our mental development where we know right from wrong. When we do wrong even though we know it is wrong we are mentally capable of determining right. We are developed enough to make an informed choice. At this stage of our development we decide whether to serve God or Satan.
"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." Matthew 6:24
From this point we are accountable for our actions, for although we could do right we may choose to do wrong. This is the age of accountability.
When we hear the Gospel we are made aware of our accountability to God. He holds each of us responsible for our actions.
"But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment." Matthew 12:36
"But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds:" Romans 2:5-6Once we reach accountability we choose the pathway we will walk in life. If we choose wrong we follow the path of Satan. It is easy to find, just follow the crowd. This is the path walked by the majority of mankind since Adam and Eve.
If you choose to do right you must change the path you walk. You must crucify the old man.
"Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." Romans 6:6
This means getting rid of the fleshly concerns in life.
"And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." Galatians 5:24
Our focus is no longer the here and now. We must focus on the hereafter. We are no longer concerned with physical things such as houses, lands, jobs, food, clothing. We must concentrate our efforts on spiritual things such as Bible study, worship, teaching the lost, restoring the erring.
This pathway is not as popular. It is strait (restricted) and narrow. It is only found in God's word. When we decide to follow the path of right, we must go to the only source of righteousness, God. We find Him when we read and study His word. He is revealed in the pages of the Old Testament. The path of righteousness is laid out plainly in the New Testament. We begin our journey when we humbly submit ourselves to His authority in obedience.
The Word says "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Hebrews 11:6. Jesus told us we must repent.
"I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." Luke 13:3
Of what do we need to repent? Remember, up until the time we chose to do right we had followed self and the world. We must now change from that path to follow the path Jesus walked as our example.
"For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:" 1Peter 2:21
"Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work." John 4:34
"For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me." John 6:38Repentance is a change of heart and action. We change from serving self to serving God. Repentance is that which causes us to stop doing anything wrong and begin doing everything right.
The next step to the path of right is confessing Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus said:
"Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven." Matthew 10:32
"For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Romans 10:10This verbal confession at the beginning of our journey is to become a visible confession of Christ in our lives.
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20
Each of these steps are necessary to reach the path of right, but they alone will not get us there. Remember, Jesus told Nicodemus a new birth was needed to enter the kingdom. John 3:3 He further explains this birth is of the water and the Spirit.
"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." John 3:5
A new birth requires a death. Our old man must die that the new man may live. Romans 6:4 begins "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death:...". Paul told the Galatian brethren he had been crucified with Christ Galatians 2:20. Galatians 5:24 says "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." Romans 6:4 continues, saying "...that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." We are therefore born again in baptism. This step blockquoteects our spiritual feet down the path of righteousness.
This act puts one on the narrow path which leads to life. If we continue to follow this path we will enter Heaven and dwell with God for eternity.
"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
If we stray from the path into sin we will only find the broad way leading to destruction.
On which path do you walk?
Daniel Lee Henderson Via Seeking His Righteousness September 1998 Buckhorn, MS Send comments and questions to daniel@hendersons.net
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