My dear brothers and sisters, of FaithLine: “HAPPY are the people WHOSE GOD IS THE LORD!” (Psa. 144:15) So, will there be many or few, people who find this happiness? “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that LEADS TO DESTRUCTION, and there are MANY WHO GO IN BY IT. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which LEADS TO LIFE, and there are FEW WHO FIND IT.” (Matt. 7:13-14) If Christ truly is the way to life and happiness, and HIS PLAN IS PERFECT, WHY DO SO FEW PEOPLE FIND IT? Could it be because of what Jesus said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him 1DENY HIMSELF, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Matt. 16:24) 1aparneomai: to forget one’s self, and one’s own interests. Denying ourselves and taking up our cross isn’t easy, so we often don’t choose to do it. Therefore, using our own free will to NOT DO WHAT IT TAKES, is what prevents us from finding the gate and the way. The plan is perfect, but we’re not. Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you…if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and RECEIVE YOU TO MYSELF…I AM THE WAY, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father EXCEPT THROUGH ME.” (John 14:2, 3, 6)
With that perspective, the beautiful thing is that Jesus SUFFERED INFINITELY for everyone even though He knew only “few” would accept His suffering. And He did that because HE LOVES US INFINITELY. “I lay down My life for the sheep…No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself…
I HAVE POWER TO LAY IT DOWN, AND I HAVE POWER TO TAKE IT UP AGAIN…(John 10:15, 18)
FaithLine, the bible says: “I will come again and RECEIVE YOU TO MYSELF…I AM THE WAY…”
-Bill Stockham