“Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.” – Proverbs 4:25-27
The Gospel is simple and uncomplicated yet deep and profound. A child can understand it, but many older folks have difficulty actually DOING it. It’s a straight, narrow way that is firm and unmoving. The path of the righteous goes directly ahead with no deviation to the right or left. John the Baptist was called to blaze this trail ahead of the Lord’s coming. It was prophesied that he would:
“As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: "A voice of one calling in the desert, "Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all mankind will see God's salvation.'" – Luke 3:4-6
John the Baptist came on the earth and spoke the truth to all who would listen. The Gospel of righteousness is the great equalizer and applies to kings & paupers, the haves and the have-nots. John the Baptist spoke the same to the King (Herod) as he did the common man. He lost his head for it too. Our culture differentiates between rich & poor, those with influence and those with none. But the Gospel does not. The Gospel says things like:
“This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” – Romans 3:22-24
The straight, narrow and level way of the Gospel unsettles those who have built their lives in the valley or on the mountaintop. It upsets those that camp out in the bends and dips on the road of life. But it’s the path we are called to walk on. You will find that almost ALL of the difficulty or turmoil we have in our lives comes as we try to hold on to both worlds at the same time. A LOT of what we call “transition” is simply compromise. That funny feeling you have in your gut as you flirt with compromise is the same feeling you have when going down a hill on the roller coaster! You’re on a hilly, winding path, not a straight and level one! The reality of the Gospel and the realities of this present world are NOT congruent! We must decide today whom we serve, the Lord or the rulers of this present world. I for one have made my choice: the straight, narrow and level way of the Gospel.
I may lose my head for it too.
LIFE LESSON:
The path of righteousness is firm, straight and level. What are you walking on?
The Gospel is simple and uncomplicated yet deep and profound. A child can understand it, but many older folks have difficulty actually DOING it. It’s a straight, narrow way that is firm and unmoving. The path of the righteous goes directly ahead with no deviation to the right or left. John the Baptist was called to blaze this trail ahead of the Lord’s coming. It was prophesied that he would:
“As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: "A voice of one calling in the desert, "Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all mankind will see God's salvation.'" – Luke 3:4-6
John the Baptist came on the earth and spoke the truth to all who would listen. The Gospel of righteousness is the great equalizer and applies to kings & paupers, the haves and the have-nots. John the Baptist spoke the same to the King (Herod) as he did the common man. He lost his head for it too. Our culture differentiates between rich & poor, those with influence and those with none. But the Gospel does not. The Gospel says things like:
“This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” – Romans 3:22-24
The straight, narrow and level way of the Gospel unsettles those who have built their lives in the valley or on the mountaintop. It upsets those that camp out in the bends and dips on the road of life. But it’s the path we are called to walk on. You will find that almost ALL of the difficulty or turmoil we have in our lives comes as we try to hold on to both worlds at the same time. A LOT of what we call “transition” is simply compromise. That funny feeling you have in your gut as you flirt with compromise is the same feeling you have when going down a hill on the roller coaster! You’re on a hilly, winding path, not a straight and level one! The reality of the Gospel and the realities of this present world are NOT congruent! We must decide today whom we serve, the Lord or the rulers of this present world. I for one have made my choice: the straight, narrow and level way of the Gospel.
I may lose my head for it too.
LIFE LESSON:
The path of righteousness is firm, straight and level. What are you walking on?
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