LEARNING DAILY

 

Matthew 7:13-14, “Enter the narrow gate; for wide is the way 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 on it.” Jesus

 

Before I write about another principle that will help us walk on the narrow way, I must correct something. I often write something that my mind completely understands but my fingers do not get it totally correct in the writing. That problem often comes out in my speech as well. Too often I take for granted that what I say is completely understood by the reader or the hearer.  With that being said, I have written about “getting off and on the narrow way”. That indicates we walk back and forth between the narrow and broad way and is totally incorrect. When we give in to the trials, temptations, difficulties we face on the narrow way it might be better thought of as preventing us from advancing on the narrow way until we ask for forgiveness for giving into the temptations. We certainly do not jump to the broad way every time we sin. Jesus went to the cross for every sin we have or will ever commit. He does not toss us off the narrow way when we sin just to grab us from the broad way when we ask for forgiveness.

 

John wrote in his first letter, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” In John’s lifetime, as in ours today, false teachers said that when a person became a follower of Jesus Christ, that person’s sin nature was wiped away and the person could achieve sinless perfection. Those people were saying what had previously been thought of as evil actions were no longer sinful; people could now do whatever they wanted because “whatever” was no longer sinful. That is heresy, a belief contrary to what the Bible states.

 

You and I as Believers must constantly be aware that the kingdom of self, the sinful nature is always a threat to us and must be continuously put to death through the power of the Holy Spirit. But, everyone sins! To say you have no sin is ignorance or prideful and is evidence one does not belong to Christ. What do we do when we sin? 1 John 1:9 is the answer, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness.” The key is to immediately confess our sins and seek forgiveness and purifying from the guilt and destruction of sin’s power -- evil thoughts, an evil tongue, and wrong actions. God does not remove you from the narrow way when we sin but He does expect confession and for each of us to walk in His light.

 

I did not expect this to be as long as it got. I pray I have explained carefully that you and I do not go back and forth between the two ways. Once we enter the narrow way through the narrow gate, Jesus Christ, He keeps us there!