Friday, February 22, 2008
No passing lane
The bible describes the entrance to heaven as narrow however the road to destruction as broad.
Matt 7:13-14 NIV
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 the letter to Corinthians Paul describes the believers live through the illustration or word picture of running a race.
1 Cor 9:24-27 NIV
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
I can’t help believing that along this race in life we have left fallen and distressed brethren behind; we have ran the race and attempted to push ourselves through the gate. There is no passing lane the way is narrow if one of GOD’s beloved falls in front of you stop and pick him up; carry him if necessary. We are in this rat race of life together in various conditions, we our called to be a peculiar bunch and called to love one another. The world cannot understand the love of Christ, but we as believers are called to live that love. Wow, what a remarkable privilege and gift. Can life be so hard that we break fellowship and divorce one another at the drop of a hat?
See the story of the Good Samaritan –
Luke 10:30-37 NKJV
30 Then Jesus answered and said: "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.' 36 So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?" 37 And he said, "He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."
I guess I have to wonder, when we see a fallen brother or sister how much compassion should we have? Should you jump overtop of them in this race of life and run your race? No, don’t let it be said amongst the heathen that we don’t love are own. We need to love them and feed them and pray for them in what ever condition we find them. Let us not run the race without the weaker brethren if need be lets carry them with us. We serve one Lord and have one goal to see GOD glorified; praise be His name. Remember we have all grown weary and been discouraged that does not mean we have been disqualified and most certainly not discarded by the brethren or fellow sojourners.
The bible describes the entrance to heaven as narrow however the road to destruction as broad.
Matt 7:13-14 NIV
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 the letter to Corinthians Paul describes the believers live through the illustration or word picture of running a race.
1 Cor 9:24-27 NIV
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
I can’t help believing that along this race in life we have left fallen and distressed brethren behind; we have ran the race and attempted to push ourselves through the gate. There is no passing lane the way is narrow if one of GOD’s beloved falls in front of you stop and pick him up; carry him if necessary. We are in this rat race of life together in various conditions, we our called to be a peculiar bunch and called to love one another. The world cannot understand the love of Christ, but we as believers are called to live that love. Wow, what a remarkable privilege and gift. Can life be so hard that we break fellowship and divorce one another at the drop of a hat?
See the story of the Good Samaritan –
Luke 10:30-37 NKJV
30 Then Jesus answered and said: "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.' 36 So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?" 37 And he said, "He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."
I guess I have to wonder, when we see a fallen brother or sister how much compassion should we have? Should you jump overtop of them in this race of life and run your race? No, don’t let it be said amongst the heathen that we don’t love are own. We need to love them and feed them and pray for them in what ever condition we find them. Let us not run the race without the weaker brethren if need be lets carry them with us. We serve one Lord and have one goal to see GOD glorified; praise be His name. Remember we have all grown weary and been discouraged that does not mean we have been disqualified and most certainly not discarded by the brethren or fellow sojourners.
Labels: No passing lane
