Stay on the Path
Jesus says we should stay on the path, in fact he says:
13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
In High School, this reminded me that God loves us but wants us to follow him, carefully, as few find the road. I was thankful to be on the road, but memorized this verse.
As I grew I felt the path metaphor had even more for me.
A narrow path means there are also two ditches, one on each side.
Jesus welcomed the tax collectors and prostitutes. He also knew Pharisees.
Both of them were in a ditch. The tax collectors ignored God and lived the way they wanted.
Stay on the Path and See Our Risks
However, the Pharisees thought about God constantly and revered His law. Yet, Jesus opposed them. They were in the other ditch. People who passionately follow God are in danger of the Pharisee ditch.
The Pharisees were filled with themselves, proud of themselves and looked down on others. They were careful about following rules but failed to have mercy and other such unmeasurable virtues.
Christians who seek God hard like me are at strong risk of falling into the Pharisee ditch – or even living in it. We must watch ourselves. In the news, you often find news of pastors who have fallen into infidelity. That is the other ditch.
Jesus cares for us and warns us that the path is narrow and few find it. It is not because we fail in diligence. It is a failure of trust and growing in love with God. May we be childlike followers of our great God and Father.
Our triune God is rich in love and longs for us to open our heart to him. He is our light and our salvation. Let us hold fast to this God who loves us so. May we be careful in our steps to stay on the narrow path.
