Narrow

I often think of the narrow way that Jesus spoke of as He contrasted the highway of destruction to the "narrow" path He calls us to traverse. Yes, if we view the choice Jesus describes between the highway of destruction and the narrow way of following Him through the only eyes we have at the beginning, the paradigm of our flesh, it appears as He says. The apparent choice to deny our flesh, saying "No", at times is hard and one needs to consider this choice carefully in the initial steps upon the narrow way. Even with time and wisdom there will be many times upon the journey we must once again consider the choices presented, times where the narrow way seems more difficult than expected. Our flesh will cry out in rebellion and our enemy will entice with seduce-ments that can seem too overwhelming to ignore. There will also be times one makes detours off the narrow way eventually hitting the myriad of dead-ends the wide highway only offers. At those times Jesus' words, "Lo I am with you always" will arise and one may repent of poor decisions made. Yes, He is there when we do stray. Our elder brother will be there bidding us lovingly back to the true journey of our hearts in Him.

At some point in the journey one may come to realize how wide the "narrow" way is for our hearts, who we truly are. We will see how many wide, spacious places there are along the way in which we thrive, we live in a way never offered in the bondage that is the highway of destruction. I think it is at these points we see the paradox in Jesus' words describing the two paths, the twinkle in His eye when we understand that things are not as they initially appeared to be.

When viewed through the eyes and needs of our hearts transformed by the Holy Spirit at our second birth, we see it is not a narrow way at all. There is a freedom in His grace for living the life He offered. A life marked by what the world really is hungry for; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. Those bound to the highway, it's true narrowness of bondage, need to see Jesus in us who follow Him. His offer was LIFE. Do we represent His life well, in a manner that invites others to His life?

I've become weary of those who have grown sour, who have not found Jesus' grace along the way, but only see the road as a set of rules and regulations to attempt to keep. Often I've found pride in those who think they have succeeded in seeking and living out of narrowness without finding the wideness in His grace, the easy yoke He spoke of. Often they see Abba Father only as a line judge ready to whack us when we stray. Yes, correction is needed at times and I've experienced this at times, but I do believe we do Him a grave disservice if we only see Him standing by with a 2x4 ready to whack us whenever we stray. This is not the Father I've come to know on the narrow way that is not really narrow at all. His adjustments are gentle, always full of grace. He loves us deeper than we can imagine, even in the mud we may put ourselves in through poor choices.
 
It is sad to see some so encumbered by their own attempts at developing and maintaining their own sense of personal holiness. It is not our righteousness we are clothed with, but Jesus'; His redemption, His wisdom, His holiness offered freely by a loving God-head who states emphatically that we are in Him, He is in us. It is in that perspective we find the wideness of the "narrow" way.

Jesus, may I lean on You at those times when the narrowness presses in, when I can only move forward by keeping my eyes upon You. May I see the wideness You have for my heart as I traverse this path. May I remember well the bondage and dead-ends offered by the highway when I am tempted. Amen.