Who knew?! Definitely not me! I would never imagine that freedom can be found walking on a narrow road.
I used to read this verse from Matthew and feel uneasiness, fear and some anger. Time and time again I prayed for God to take my free will because it was too scary to think of finding that narrow path on my own.
I didn't realize at the time that my experiences, even those where I totally crash and burn and almost lose my life are what is needed to help me to recognize the breath taking beauty of that winding little path. Before, I saw it as constrictive, confining and was miserable when trying to keep within it's ugly little borders. I envisioned scratchy and heart rending brambles on either side of it, just waiting and hungry to rip you to shreds.
As I look at this picture what comes to mind is a vision of "This is what it means to follow Jesus...." For some time I have quit trying to figure out what is the "right" choice in situations. Instead I have begun to ask God "how do I follow you in this situation." It brings so much freedom because you are no longer leaning on your own understanding to figure out right and wrong. In many, MANY scenarios there are no right and wrong answers.
1 Corinthians 10:23-24 says I have the right to do anything but not all things are beneficial. I like the way the Message bible says it "Looking at it one way, you could say, “Anything goes. Because of God’s immense generosity and grace, we don’t have to dissect and scrutinize every action to see if it will pass muster.” But the point is not to just get by. We want to live well, but our foremost efforts should be to help others live well.
Before I began to understand God's grace, His love, my walk with Him was stifling, choking, empty, resentful and full of religious sacrifice. Verses like the one above would throw me into a snit saying "The bible is full of do this and don't do that, and now it throws me for a loop saying that all things are permissible. What's up with that???!" This morning some examples came to mind that gave me a whole new understanding of the narrow path and how it works with the "all things are not beneficial" verse.
Look at that picture above again. As you can see, if you began to stray from the path it looks spectacular.... peaceful.... inviting..... However, I believe the farther you get from that narrow path, the scenery begins to change... the beauty begins to fade and become tangled. You and others may experience hurtful circumstances.
I have realized that this narrow path applies to all things in life. If you wander off of it with money, with food, with work, with .... well.... you fill in the blanks, you will soon begin to lose your way. You and others will suffer the natural results of not keeping within healthy guidelines in your life. Yes, it appears alluring to wander from the path but it DOES bring harm in some form.
This verse is not some legalistic order hatefully handed down by a God who is trying to control us and ruin our fun. It is a gentle urging whispered into our ear while we are cradled in the arms of a loving father who longs for us to live in the freedom and abundance He offers.
My point here is that in all the things the bible has to teach us... if we don't see it through the eyes of God's love and grace....we will wander around off of that narrow path and receive some scratches and bruises. This happens... I believe it is even necessary.... We learn from it.
When you can get a revelation of His love for you, you KNOW that narrow path is a place of safety, security yet freedom. Freedom to live from guilt and shame because you know in your heart that you DO want to do the "right" things.
Freedom in that knowledge because you know when you wander from the path, it was not because you are bad but because you just allowed yourself to be distracted by something that looked appealing. You apologize and go on, asking God to guide your steps back to solid ground.
Our consequences are not punishment from God, they are simply a result of our poor choices. We walked the wide road of destruction and as a result, WE became wide! Hahahaha! Sorry.... I'm a jokester so bear with me.
Again, just know that you are the apple of God's eye. He isn't angry with you and He isn't punishing you. As Luke 13:34 says "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killer of prophets, abuser of the messengers of God! How often I’ve longed to gather your children, gather your children like a hen, Her brood safe under her wings but you refused and turned away!" The Message He WANTS to keep you safe but it is your choice to allow Him to or not.
In case you have not heard this, there are stories about how a mother hen will gather her babies under her when the chicken coop is on fire. She will continue to shelter them allowing herself to be be burned to death just to keep them safe. Here is an excerpt from one of those stories "But it was when Grandpa scraped his heavy shoe to move the carcass of a dead hen that a picture of God’s sweet provision broke through. Nestled under the wings of that charred hen were six little yellow chicks. Scared, but alive. Their mother had not survived the fire, but they were hidden under her downy wings and did not suffocate or burn."
What an amazing parable of God's love....
So what do you say? Are you tired of being road kill? Then ask Him to guide you to His narrow path. Ask Him to enable you to find the joy, peace and freedom that comes when you walk that road, even when there may be trials and tribulations to journey through.
I
gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love. Romans 8:31-32
