the basic message #E6
Matthew 7:13-14
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
I would guess that nearly everyone reading this has heard this passage many times. Most of us have probably focused on the concept of the wide and narrow paths, a message that is fairly simple. Look again at the last six words in the passage: “….and only a few find it.” Are you one of the few? Why or why not? I imagine the first people who traveled the Interstate highways in America thought they were WIDE! The same highways today seem narrow due to the congestion. Have we come to mistakenly think we’re on the narrow path when in reality we’re on a congested wide path?
Matthew 13:24-30
Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, the weeds also appeared. “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”
This passage has taken on new meaning for me recently. I’ve thought for years that the weeds were “the world” and the wheat was “the church”. Now I believe that the passage refers only to the church. Why? The world won’t need to go through a separation process, because it’s unholy mission has always been clear. In other words, the world is a briar patch next to the church, the wheat field. The wheat field has wheat and weeds growing together. The church has Christians and “others” congregating together. Which are you? I’ve been wheat, and I’ve been a weed. God, please let me be wheat.
I wonder how many people sit in church Sunday after Sunday making the assumption that they are on their way to Heaven. Only God knows what is truly in the heart of a man, woman or child, but what are we doing to help increase and enrich God’s kingdom? Salvation is a free gift from God, but don’t we have a responsibility as the “King’s kid”? (I just need to shut-up and let the Master say it):
Matthew 7:19
“Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.”
What kind of fruit is on your tree, my brothers and sisters? Still holding on to a grudge for years? Have prejudice towards anyone different than you? Hanging on to every nickel and dime because “I worked for it- I don’t owe anyone anything!”? That old fruit stinks. Hey, I’ve had a stinky fruit tree myself- I understand. The remedy: Pull that old rotten, nasty stuff off of your tree and throw it as far as you can. Then concentrate on producing the sweetest, loveliest fruit you can for the Heavenly Farmer. Amen?