There's Only One Road

We can all agree that life is a journey and during this journey we travel down many roads. These roads have led us to much happiness, as well as to much sadness. We have traveled the road of disappointment and satisfaction. We have even ducked into some ally ways along our journeys to escape being noticed 

 

What ever roads we've been on in this life will eventually lead to dead ends. When we arrive at a dead end we have no choice but to turn around. Unfortunately some people are looking for the dead end in their lives because they do not think there are any more turn arounds. How sad, but true. These people have become very disappointed with their lives and do not see any future happiness. Many times these dead ends result in fatal decisions being made and relatives being notified. This shouldn't be!

People are also confused when it comes to the spiritual road they should be on. The reason being is that they are told by others that there are many roads leading to eternal life. Instead of searching the Holy Scriptures to see if this information is correct, they just agree with their minister, pastor, priest, reverand, bishop, etc. Talk about dead ends! If we search the scriptures and know that our God is not the author of confusion but one of peace (1 Cor. 14:33), then we will quickly realize that there is only ONE road that leads to eternal life in the heavenly kingdom.

Some would say that when Jesus made the statement, “I am the vine, you are the branches...” (John 15:5a), He was making reference to many bodies or churches. If we back up a bit and re-read beginning in Chapter 13 verse 1, we discover that Jesus is with His disciples and sharing with them of His upcoming departure (vs. 31-35). He then tells of Peter's denial (vs. 36-38) before comforting the disciples in Chapter 14:1-4. When we finally get to Chapter 15:5a, He is still conversing with His disciples so the branches are individuals, not different congregations. Remember also that His church He promised to build in Matthew 16:18 was not even established yet (Acts 2:38). Taking all of this scripture into account we can easily surmise that there would only be one church and one road still leading to that eternal home.

So, is it possible that a person that wants to end up in heaven, they would have to be added to the church that Jesus said He would build? Absolutely! Is the church He built in the first century findable today? Good question! Again we need to go to the Holy Scriptures to find the answer. Matthew 7:13 refers to two gates. One is narrow and one is broad. So in order to get to either of these gates an individual has to be traveling down a road. We can refer to these roads as Plan A and Plan B. Plan A is the road leading to the narrow gate and to eternal life. Here we find the way very difficult and few finding it. Plan B on the other hand is the broad. It is very congested and many are traveling this path. The problem with traveling this route is that it leads to destruction.

Life can be very confusing at times. It can seem like we are going in circles or the roads are so many that we just don't know which one to travel down. Don't be misled! The Bible is very clear that the road you want to seek and travel on is the one leading to the narrow gate and life everlasting. This is the same road that Jesus will be returning on to receive His bride the church. Are you a part of that body He established on Pentecost in 33 AD? Will you be with the number that Christ takes to the Father? If not, you can be and should be. Study the book of Acts to see if you are part of the Lord's body or if you have been deceived and you are part of man's church. Make sure!

Fear Is Very Real

What are you fearful of today or maybe everyday? Hopefully you don't have a real long list of fears, but most of us are fearful of something. Snakes would be high on a lot of people's lists and maybe heights. Others might fear the truth or a lie. Still others might fall into the category of being fearful of the unknown. Now that's a scary one, isn't it? Of course it is! We all like to know what's going on but that's not always the case, especially when it comes to God and living for Him.

Psalm 19:9 says, The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever... Psalm 34:9 tells us, Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Psalm 111:10 Here in these verses we see that fear is clean, enduring and brings wisdom to anyone that lives for God. This should bring comfort to a those who fear God in a healthy way. But what if we think that God is a god that overlooks our wrongdoings and He says, “It's okay My children; My grace will cover your ignorance.” WRONG! Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh and strength to your bones. Proverbs 3:7b

The kind of fear most live with is anxiety caused by approaching danger. This is exactly the kind of fear the Syria army felt in 2 Kings 7:6, 7 when God caused them to hear a noise they thought was a great army the king of Israel had hired to attack and kill them. In this case, fear was very real to this encamped army. God can and will do the same for you if you put your trust in Him and know that He is always there to cover your back, front, and sides. This is the kind of God He is!

Now, there is a fear that many face and don't want to face. It is the fear of doing what is RIGHT. Sounds pretty absurd, doesn't it? But, doing what is RIGHT usually means we or someone else has to make a change. Doing what is RIGHT takes courage. It takes will power. It takes knowing there might be consequences to the action taken. It means putting your whole trust in Almighty God, knowing He will take care of the situation that is making you do RIGHT.

So what are some things that are right according to God's word? How about His law? The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; Psalm 19:8 God's word is right. For the word of the Lord is right and His work is done in truth. Psalm 33:4 God's way is right. And He led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city for habitation. Psalm 107:7 The thoughts of the righteous are right. Proverbs 12:5 The way of the guilty man is perverse, but as for the pure, his work is right. Proverbs 21:8 Then we have obedience to God is right. But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:19, 20

What Peter and John committed to do, is what so many Christians fail to do themselves, stand up for the word of God. This is part of doing what is right that puts the fear of the world in us. What will people think of me if I try to tell them about Jesus. Will they stop talking to me? Will they avoid me when they see me out in public? The book, “The Muscle and the Shovel” is a must read if you are struggling with doing RIGHT in God's service. The world has blinded us with so much false doctrine that we hardly know what is RIGHT any longer. The only way to rediscover what is RIGHT is to once again peal open the pages of God's word and consume the words until your spiritual appetite becomes satisfied. Then do it over and over again! 

 

What you read and digest might be very difficult to swallow at times, but remember, you are seeking to do what is RIGHT. Eternity is entirely too long to be WRONG!