Two Separate Roads

 

Two Separate Roads

 

Matthew 7:13-14

13 “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. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

There are two roads in life that are leading people to their destinations. However, there are two separate locations that are predestined for the souls who travel along them. The Word of the Lord is written for mankind to obey and follow as a guide and road map to live by. The souls that take heed to study, meditate, and obey God’s Word will enter the narrow gate. This path will lead them to eternal life. The other road is broad, wide is the gate and it is open wide for those who reject and do not take heed to the Word of the Lord. Their path will be destruction and eternal death.

The way that people live their lives tell their stories about them. Our identity and fruit separate us from one another. There is only one unique you and that’s the way God designed us. Truly no one can steal our identity in Christ. Every man who accepts Jesus and believe that He is the Son of God are accounted for as His sheep. The door has been opened to him. Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.  John 10:9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 

Jesus is calling us to everlasting life. The Holy Spirit is dwelling within the believers as a promise sent by God. John 15:26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. The regeneration process of the new birth is the work of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life. John 3:5-8 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 

The old man is being stripped of the dirty garments and is being made clean with the washing of the Word. This is a private and intimate journey between the believer and Holy Spirit. His wind blows upon us to breathe new life into our spirit. This is an experience and encounter that only the believer can confirm. However, when the Holy Spirit makes His presence known to the believer there is a change of heart because the living Word and Spirit are alive within us. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 

Step by step the Holy Spirit is teaching, helping, and guiding us toward Christ. We must abide in the Word to grow in our understanding of the scriptures and obey. Our love should be pure and our obedience to the Holy Spirit is submitting our will to Him. He is God. Genesis 1:1-2 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 1 Corinthians 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 1 Corinthians 2:10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

We must pray and ask the Holy Spirit to help us. He sees and knows everything that surrounds us and the journey ahead. There is evil and darkness that hides in the spirit realm that Satan sends to attack us. Our path is laid out for us to do the work of the Lord. Therefore, we must be sober minded and vigilant in our walk and submit to the Father’s will for our lives. The plans that He has for us is leading us toward an abundant life in Christ.  John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

We will leave people and vice versa as we follow the narrow path. When we become born again the Word is alive living within us causing us to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. The choices that we make must line up with the Word, so that we will remain in the Lord’s will. His Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our paths. Remember, when we meditate on the Word the seeds are being deposited into our new spirit – inner man. The seeds will grow and bear fruit in our lives.

The joy of the Lord will increase in us as we breathe and eat from His living water. We must protect our joy and peace because this is the kingdom of God blessing us with spiritual blessings. It doesn’t matter what is happening around us because the Lord has a fence around us. Every day will not be full of sunshine, so we must get anchored in the Word and protect our faith. Our old life will pass away as we lay hold of the new life in Christ. Philippians 3:12-14   Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

The people who enter the wide gate are attracted to the world’s wisdom and trappings. Those who follow the world, and all its philosophies, greed, and pleasures will be destroyed along with their idols. There is a price to pay for rejecting Christ. Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. 2 Corinthians 11:14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.  The wide gate is appealing to the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life to many. It appeals to our five senses that entices us to sin and feed our flesh with ungodly living. Galatians 6:7-8 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 

People who are looking for love, hurt, unforgiving, bitter, holding grudges, liars, thieves, etc. are attracted to counterfeits and lying spirits who tell them made up fables who enters the wide gate because many deceiving spirits are calling them. These lost souls are spiritually dead and cannot discern the evil spirits and demons who plot to destroy them.

On the path to destruction there will be many who were given warnings by God. But they did not take heed. There were times when God spared them from car accidents, survived a critical surgery, family members who got saved told them about how God saved them, but were mocked. The Lord spared many of these people by giving them second chances to live and repent. But their unbelieving hearts and minds were blinded by pride, hurt, unforgiveness, rejection, egos and harden hearts.

Dear reader and listener, we have free will to choose which path in life we want to go. Christ spoke to His followers about the narrow gate and the wide gate. The narrow way is not easy, but it leads to everlasting life. The wide gate seems easy because many are entering through it. The soul that enters the wide gate has chosen to gamble with their soul. This path will lead to destruction in eternal darkness separated from the love of God forever. Let us ponder on this message and take heed. Proverbs 3:7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil.

 

Turning Point

 

Today I will choose to serve You

The time is now for me to submit

I’ve tried things my way and I’ve failed

 I accept You into my life

I am new with the process please understand

I have no knowledge on how to live

I pray that You have enough mercy

Living on my own has been a strain

I surrender my will to Yours

Being in the fort of the road is confusing

I’m tired of fighting for which way

Dear Lord please guide my soul

ã2004 “Naima’s Inspirational Melodies”