Line upon Line “Strait Lines, Strait Paths, Strait People” (qualitative restrictions) The word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. (Isaiah 28:13) This familiar passage taken from Isaiah 28:10 -13 is one of rebuke to the people of Ephraim (that is, the Northern Kingdom of Israel) in the days of the divided kingdom. Isaiah especially castigates the priests and prophets who should have been teaching God’s Word to the people, but who had instead become proud and then drunkards, leaving the people in great ignorance and spiritual confusion. Therefore, cried Isaiah: Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts (v. 9). Before they can really grow in the knowledge of God, they must be built up carefully, line upon line, for they are yet carnal babes in spiritual matters. A very similar rebuke was administered to the early Christians, and would be even more appropriate today: For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age (Hebrews 5:12-14). Such an admonition is greatly needed today, when Christian believers subsist almost entirely on spiritual milk; or even worse, on the froth that passes for evangelical literature taught in most Sunday schools and found Christian bookstores today. We need to get back to the strong meat of the Word, lest we fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. Jesus gives us a choice. In fact, he gives us three choices: Where are you going? Who are your guides? And What will you change? The Bible says, there are Two Paths you can take in life. And you are free to make the choice. God gives you that freedom. But as you decide, there are a few things you should know about these two options. One of them works and the other one doesn’t. One of them feels right and the other one doesn’t. One of them is popular and the other one isn’t. Matthew 7:13-14, are all about the choice between these two paths. These verses tell us something important about the choice we have to make and they tell us something important about ourselves. Enter through the narrow gate......... Even before we examine the two paths stretching in front of us, Jesus wants us to have the inside scoop: think narrow. “I’m about to give you a choice between two doors. And by the way, if you’re paying attention, pick the narrow door.” Then he gives us a contrast between these two pathways. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. The first option is a wide gate and a broad path. The words used here describe a spacious, roomy, expansive highway to travel on. It’s just the kind of road you might choose. Travel along this road is easy and there’s ample room to accommodate everyone and all their baggage (of sin). But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it. Even the beginning of the path is restrictive; narrow is literally “pressed together”, restricted (tribulation) the implication is not spacious, but crowded, hard to navigate. King James Version says “strait and narrow”, but strait means restricted, like the Strait of Magellan, not “straight” meaning without curves (repentance, humility, discipline, persecution self-sacrifice, self-denial, spiritual resistance and conflict). A minority religion .................... Oswald Sanders: “A West Indian who had chosen Mohammedanism in preference to Christianity, gave as his reason that ‘Mohammedanism is a noble, broad path; there is room for a man and his sins on it. The way of Christ is a narrow way; the sins have to be left behind.’” If you’ve entered the narrow gate, don’t expect to fit in, to be popular. Expect continued persecution, restrictions, not a life of ease. Many people don’t have a problem with Jesus being a Savior, but a lot of people have a hard time accepting Jesus as THE only Savior. John 14:6 Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else [but Jesus], for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. 1 John 5:11-12 God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. You have a choice ..... you can either choose to find life through Christ or through any other means. But the idea that all paths lead to God and to eternal life is a fallacy. Seeking life through anything but Christ is the most popular choice, usually an easier path, with fewer requirements and less restrictive. Most people choose that path to find life. Seeking life through Christ alone is a less popular choice, sometimes difficult, with specific requirements which eliminate many from the path (by their own choice). Jesus, however, is the only way to life. All other paths lead to death. Christianity is exclusive. All are welcome, but only those who come will be saved.
Posted on: Thu, 07 Aug 2014 17:13:38 +0000
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