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Swimming Upstream
We like to see things in shades of grey. Consider a scale for human motivation: at one end is the quintessential moderate – doesn’t really believe strongly in anything and so is usually willing to compromise for the sake of peace. At the opposite end is the fanatic – believes so strongly that nothing else even matters – never compromises. We like to see ourselves somewhere in the middle and we like to avoid those that we perceive to be near the ends. Neat. The world is like that.
The problem is that God sees things as black or white, not grey. Consider: “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. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Mathew 7:13-14). There are exactly two paths with two very different outcomes – no grey areas. We would much rather believe in a network of more or less acceptable bunny trails all leading in the same general direction.
As Christians, we have come to understand and accept the “two paths” as it relates to getting into heaven. Faith in Jesus is the only way to Life. But the truth is that there are exactly two paths from which to choose in each of our important decisions. One leads to life – the other to destruction. (Yes, God is loving, compassionate and forgiving but He will not compromise for us – He is the original fanatic.) God through His Word is the authority in our decisions or He is not – exactly two paths. Notice that the “narrow” and “difficult” path is the one that leads to life. I am not sure why God made it that way, but that is what we have to live with. Going God’s way is usually counter-intuitive because He is so different from us. So it seems difficult. I think of it as “swimming upstream”.
I would like to think that I could decide once and for all that I will always choose to side with God and take the path leading to life. But each new decision requires a new choice and we don’t always come down on the same side. Many can trust Jesus fully for the salvation of their souls but falter when it comes to the healing of their bodies. It can be both easy to believe in forgiveness and difficult to write the tithe check.
Swimming upstream is the hard way and few others will be swimming with you. Most will be comfortably floating downstream. But the broad, easy path leads to destruction – the waterfalls are downstream! Russ
