About when the easy way is not the best way…
Matthew 7:13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and
broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. (NIV)
Because of our selfishness, we want our prayers answered and our needs met.
Because of our selfishness, we expect the maximum from God and expect God to
make our way easy, safe, and even fun. Because of our selfishness, when we face
tough times or when we are caught in a time of having to make decisions, we
often take the easy way instead of the hard way. Because of our selfishness, we
take the easy way and expect God to bless us as we take the easy way. Because of
our selfishness, we take the easy way and pray God will see our good intentions.
The bottom line of truth is when we take the easy way, the easy way is not only
not always the best way, the easy way can often be the worst way. Hard decisions
may require you to choose a hard path you do not want to walk. You may be
required to walk a hard path littered with risk, but a hard path you and God
know is the right path. The earthly life of our Lord Jesus begins with the
blessed event of Christ's birth and ends with the horror of His cross. Christ
could have taken the easy way. Christ could have turned away from being born at
all. Christ could have turned away from the horror of his torture and death on
the cross. There is a lesson to be learned here. The lesson we must learn is
that when we want only the comfort and ease of life then our chosen path can
lead to the bitter end of hell for our souls. If there is one silent whisper of
Satan entering the ear of every person, the silent whisper is to take the easy
way. It is easy to go the easy way and commit a sin. It is easy to take the easy
way and take care of our business rather than the business of others. It is easy
for us to take the easy way and put ourselves first in all matters. It is easier
to take the easy path and hear only what we want to hear. However, what is easy
is not always what is godly. What is godly is most often our willingness to walk
the hard and narrow road. On the hard and narrow road we resist temptation, we
love others more than ourselves, we put others first, and we hear only the truth
even when the truth hurts. However, at the end of the hard and narrow road we
find rest in a place called Heaven.
