The Truth of the Narrow Way

What is the truth of the narrow way? What happens when you decide to fix your eyes on Jesus and the things of earth grow strangely dim? I think there is a dichotomy of things that happen. Two opposing things come to pass, and if we aren't aware of them we can become disillusioned, disappointed and even turn away from the Lord. So, I think we should look at these things to be aware of what we can expect.
Let's look at the positive first. I believe that if you are fixing your eyes on Jesus, you are walking the narrow way. If you love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, you are on the narrow way. I believe that you are called the righteous in the Bible. So, first of all, every promise made to the righteous is yours! Good news!! Just one verse that tells us what to expect is Psalm 16:11 "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." If you are endeavouring this walk with the Lord, then you know that the joy and pleasures mentioned are not worldly, carnal joy and pleasures. You know that you can be in the middle of the biggest storm you've ever faced in this life, and still find joy and pleasure in the Lord. John 16:33 "These things I have spoken unto you, that in my ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." John 14:27 " Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." So, we have something that other people won't have, a peace that the world cannot give. We have a hope to cling to that others who don't put their complete faith and trust in God do not have.
Guess what? This separates you from a lot of other people. In fact, I think that if you really have this complete faith and trust in Jesus, you will be different from almost ALL people. And this includes church people. No offense to anyone, but I need a way to differentiate those who truly follow Jesus, and those who just go to church and do good things. There is a difference. I have done a pretty extensive study on the passage in Matt. 7:13-14 and I've found something interesting in the words spoken here. The word for "strait" is Stenos in the Greek. It says in the concordance that this word is spoken figuratively of the gate which leads to eternal life; narrow because it runs counter to natural inclinations. So, I ask again, what happens when you are on this narrow road? Like the song says, "the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace." I think it makes sense to say that when the things of earth grow strangely dim, you may find that you no longer have a lot in common with others. In fact, you may have nothing in common with others. And, to go even further, unfortunately in this day and age, you may not have much in common with "church people".
When I think over the Bible, and look at the people who were devoted to God, you don't really see them being the popular people. They weren't running with the "in" crowd. Start in the beginning and just look at Abraham. He had to leave his family and move to a strange land. He was able to take Lot with him, but that didn't even last very long. Noah....need I say much more. Only 8 people survived at the end of that story. Even the "prophets" who were God's messengers were basically alone. Jesus, when told by the crowds that they would follow Him, replied; "The foxes have holes and that birds of the air have nests: but the Son of Man hath not where to lay his head." Even Jesus, especially Jesus, was not popular with the crowds. Many times when he was speaking, there were people who were angered and sought to kill him.
When Jesus sent forth the twelve apostles, he told them in Matt.10: 22 "And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved." And when the people of Nazareth rejected him Matt 13:57 says, "And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and in his own house." Let's not focus on the word prophet, but take the whole message here. Jesus said that these things would happen. That we would be rejected in our own neighborhood, city, and even our own homes. He even refutes the "Santa-God" idea when he says in Matt. 10:34-38 "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me." God is not here to bring peace. He's not some big Santa in the sky who is saying, "Can't we all just get along?" John 3:19 says something interesting. "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." These verses tell us that it can be expected that people whose deeds are evil will not want to come to the light. In fact, those people will hate the light. How many times and places did Jesus say, "You are the light of the world."? We must expect that people will not like us, maybe even hate us. We must expect that they will not even want to be around us, because their deeds will be condemned. Have you ever been around when someone curses, then apologizes for saying those words? Eventually, they will find it easier to be their normal selves if they don't have to apologize, so that means they won't want to be around you.
So, what's the point of this post? If these answers are already to be expected, why write about it? There is a good reason. As believers who trust in God, and follow Him wholeheartedly, we cannot get sidetracked because others may choose to reject us. I think there is a place for heart searching, going before God and making sure we haven't wronged anyone. But, if God doesn't point out anything to us, we need to understand that we will be hated because of Jesus. We can't get stuck in constant personal angst because people don't like us. We must do what God's word says in Rom. 12:18 " If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men."
I encourage you to be a follower of God, no matter what the cost.

There is None Like You

The words of the song prompted me to look up scriptures pertaining to the phrase, "None like You". What I came up with is a powerful list of scriptures that reiterate over and over that the God of Jacob is like none other. What a great knowledge to have! In times of trouble or distress, in times of pain and sorrow what can comfort you better than knowing that the God you serve is like no other! Below are the scriptures I found. I pray they give you an awesome perspective of our God!
Ex.8:10 "And he said, To morrow. And he said, Be it according to thy word: that thou mayest know that there is none like unto the Lord our God."
Ex. 9:14 "For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth."
Ex 15:11 "Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?"
Deut. 4:35, 39 "Unto thee it was shewes, that thou mightest know that the Lord he is God; there is none else beside him. Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the Lord he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else."
Deut. 33:26 " There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky."
I Sam. 2:2 "There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God."
II Sam 7:22 "Wherefore thou art great, O Lord God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears."
I Kings 8:60 "That all the people of the earth may know that the Lord is God, and there is none else."
I Chron. 17:20 "O Lord, there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears."
Isaiah 45:5, 6 "I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the Lord, and there is none else."
Is. 45: 18, 21, 22 "For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord; and there is none else. Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together who hath declared this from ancient time? have not I the Lord? and there is nor God else beside me; a just God and a Savior; there is none beside me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: For I am God, and there is none else."
Is. 46:9 " Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, "
Jer. 10: 6, 7 "Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O Lord; thou art great, and thy name is great in might. Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee."
Joel 2:27 "And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed."

These words have encouraged my heart, and I hope they do the same for you.