If I believed in the ‘exacto-knife’ approach to reading the Word of God, this verse would have been eliminated years ago.
But the gate to life is very narrow. The road that leads there is so hard to follow that only a few people find it.
Matthew 7:14
I wear the proverbial ‘rose-colored’ glasses whenever I can. I detest arguing and can find a million things I would rather do than proclaim ‘my rightness’ or ‘your wrong-ness.’ Indeed, there are many shades of gray in my world. And seeing ‘both sides’ is my natural bent. I am maturing into one willing to stand on the lines of Scripture, though.
For God is not wishy-washy; nor does He have difficulty discerning lines. His view is not blurry or variations of gray like mine. Scripture is clear: there is right and wrong, good and evil. Scripture is clear: there is a devil. He hates believers, and it is his preferred mission to destroy those who sincerely call upon the name of Christ.
The devil loves cloudy thinking. I thank God that my early years of faith placed me under the tutelage of solid, Bible-teaching pastors. There is no room for exacto-knives when you study the Word of God. All Scripture is written for learning, encouragement and chastening.
Christians must study the Word to know what is in it…God created and creates with the living Word. There is no other source to know how to live.
Not long after the verse about the narrow gate, there is another passage that chills my heart and shatters my rose-colored glasses. It teaches us that on judgment day, many who thought they knew Jesus are told ‘depart from me–I never knew you.’
My heart aches to consider the multitudes who have, are and will miss life. That sorrow presses me to know God more fully, to reveal Him with greater simplicity and clarity. My heart cries for individuals to know the glory of God–and the privilege of living in the power of Christ.
To consider oneself a believer–a friend of God–is awe-inspiring, is it not? To claim to be friends with one so powerful that their very words produce action, create substance and give life is quite a claim. Are we worthy friends?
Friends don’t hang out with those who hate their friend. Friends don’t walk all over their friend’s kindnesses. Friends don’t change their friend’s words to be what they want the words to be. Yet, many of us who call Jesus, ‘Friend,’ do all of those things. Many who call Him Friend don‘t even know what He says. Many simply go on their own thoughts and opinions, assuming what they think is what God thinks.
There can be no exacto-knives in studying Scripture. If it isn’t all Truth, who determines what parts are Truth?
Wouldn’t that make the person who decides their own god?
Heaven forbid! Invest your time and mind in studying the Word of God. Don’t go on what Granny taught you or the newspaper reports. Read it, study it for yourself! Your eternity depends on it!.
What is your favorite place to find quality Bible studies? Or why don’t you study the Word?
I’ll post some of my favorite links in coming days but I look forward to hearing yours too.
Heartsong Ministries 