Some people--many there are who find it--are walking the wide path--the broad avenue--that leads to eternal destruction. Pride is the bounce in their steps. Evidence by their many falls. Walking in the midst of the crowd, they imagine that they are different from everyone else. Whatever god they are following it looks an awful lot like the face they see in the mirror each morning. Never satisfied, joyless, hoping the path leads somewhere, they walk along. And it does--it ...leads to the place of eternal separation from God. To an eternity alone.
Some Christians are walking the path of thorns. They have turned away from obedience. They are striving to find satisfaction in the crowd--in the emptiness of the world. Trying to fill up on the slop of the pig pen. They and the world are not headed in the same direction; yet, they wonder why they can never fit in. Sadly, they, too often, drag those they love down the thorny path as well. Is that not the greatest peril of the life of the foolish disciple--when the house falls down, those they claim to love are inside taking shelter from the storm. Restless, trying to make a home of the place that is not their home, pierced through with many sorrows, they trudge along the path of thorns. No bounce in their steps.
Others, delightedly, are walking the path of faithfulness. Following in the steps of Enoch, Noah, Abraham, the Apostles, their Savior, they walk--never alone, strengthened by faith, empowered by the Spirit, rejoicing in hope. Their walk is a labor of love--sometimes tiring to the body, never tiring to the soul as He constantly renews their joy. The bounce in their step is a heart of gratitude for His all-sufficent grace.
Some Christians are walking the path of thorns. They have turned away from obedience. They are striving to find satisfaction in the crowd--in the emptiness of the world. Trying to fill up on the slop of the pig pen. They and the world are not headed in the same direction; yet, they wonder why they can never fit in. Sadly, they, too often, drag those they love down the thorny path as well. Is that not the greatest peril of the life of the foolish disciple--when the house falls down, those they claim to love are inside taking shelter from the storm. Restless, trying to make a home of the place that is not their home, pierced through with many sorrows, they trudge along the path of thorns. No bounce in their steps.
Others, delightedly, are walking the path of faithfulness. Following in the steps of Enoch, Noah, Abraham, the Apostles, their Savior, they walk--never alone, strengthened by faith, empowered by the Spirit, rejoicing in hope. Their walk is a labor of love--sometimes tiring to the body, never tiring to the soul as He constantly renews their joy. The bounce in their step is a heart of gratitude for His all-sufficent grace.
And the Lord has a message for them all.
To those on the wide path He whispers, "Today is the day of salvation. Believe in Me and I will give you abundant life--right now. I long to become your Everlasting Father."
To those of His children on the path of thorns, He whispers, "Return to Me. I will give you rest. I will hold you up in the Everlasting Arms. We will have a celebration in Heaven at your healing, at your return."
To those who are walking with Him, He whispers, "I will never leave you, never forsake you. When you are weak, I will be your strength. When the path seems dark, I will remind you of My promises, and they will be the light for your every next step. At the end of the journey, I will greet you with thanks, with the commendation, "Well done! You have been a good and faithful servant. You have followed in my footsteps."
Are you listening? What whisper do you hear?
To those on the wide path He whispers, "Today is the day of salvation. Believe in Me and I will give you abundant life--right now. I long to become your Everlasting Father."
To those of His children on the path of thorns, He whispers, "Return to Me. I will give you rest. I will hold you up in the Everlasting Arms. We will have a celebration in Heaven at your healing, at your return."
To those who are walking with Him, He whispers, "I will never leave you, never forsake you. When you are weak, I will be your strength. When the path seems dark, I will remind you of My promises, and they will be the light for your every next step. At the end of the journey, I will greet you with thanks, with the commendation, "Well done! You have been a good and faithful servant. You have followed in my footsteps."
Are you listening? What whisper do you hear?
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