Narrow Path - Wide Open Life!!!

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." Matthew 7:13-14 NKJV

During a recent discussion with a close friend the other day, this thought came to mind: "It may be a straight and narrow path, but it's not a tightrope."

Everyone has their own ideas about salvation. You can go to all the different churches in your area and make that discovery. Or...if you are brave enough, you can even talk to the people in your community to hear all the different views.
Eternal Security
You can lose your salvation
Salvation through works
Salvation through baptism
No one can be saved (no hope of salvation)
These are just a few of the varied belief systems.

While I could list various reasons for the differences, only one thought seems to dominate my thinking: Our belief about God. That's right folks, what we believe about God determines what we believe about salvation. If we struggle with the idea that God is good (all the time) then we will struggle with the idea that salvation is eternal. If God is a God who must be satisfied then we will work ourselves like crazy trying to attain heaven. If we believe that God is angry then we will have no hope of ever being saved.

The Bible tells us that Jesus came to reveal the heart of the Father. What did we discover about God through His life and ministry?
We discovered that God was willing to overcome every boundary to bring us to Himself.
We discovered that God is a God of love, compassion, and abundant mercy.
We discovered that God is concerned with what happens in the lives of men.
We discovered that God wants to provide for our every need (including salvation).
We discovered that God doesn't want the world to be condemned. He wants the world to be saved.

Please understand that I do not believe we should be flippant about salvation or holiness. However, I have also discovered that God is very gracious. Much more gracious, in fact, than we sometimes believe. In the sacrifice of His Son, God has chosen to reconcile the entire world to Himself. He has chosen to forgive every sin. He has chosen to offer us the same quality of life that Jesus walked in. This life of holiness and separation unto God is made available by the work of the Holy Spirit. While the entry into eternal life my be narrow, the life inside is wide open.

I pray that you will be encouraged to walk in this abundant life. I hope that you can see that God wants you to live life to its fullest. Love, Joy, and Peace in the Holy Spirit is what the Kingdom of God is all about. Now go enjoy the life that He offers.