The Narrow Path?

[Raphael]

Hi SDAs worldwide,

We all have been provided the two choices of either the highway or the narrow path as it has been seemingly exhorted throughout our lives of spiritual SDA's education. I have never seen or read anything mentioning the origin of those two paths but I do remember the terrifying stress on the end's paths, that of heaven and hell. I also remember that the narrow path gets narrower.

What I would like bring to mind is that if anything gets narrower, that means it its gets wider if you would retraced your footprints backwards. Which means we all started from a highway which progressively got narrower, progressively not immediately.

Now, its real life application. When we started to learn the truth we were always told of the hardships we will or had to bear. We were never told the fun of growing in a progressive manner, progressively out sizing or outgrowing our sinful natures. Instead of introducing us to the widest level at the lowest part of the "narrow" path, we were introduced to its straitest parts. We never learned the nature of growth. We demanded miracles to out best natures course, thus, here we are at our sternest wheel of course, self whipping ourselves and others in our malevolent contrition to appease this repressive conscience of indictment.

Let us learn of this narrow path, of its grace, patience, growth and progress in its right perception, free of the growing pains that even adolescents have to through.

And perhaps, I might write a book on that matter, but again, seen from the field lens of the narrow path it seems that it will be still quite far up ahead upon the path which means I would rather not dwell my thoughts upon it, less it may tax my feeble mind.

Anyway, what do my beloved brethren think of this. Do my brethren agree that we should be more tolerable, accepting and understanding to others mistakes, viewing them as opportunities of growth and development? Instead of death sentences and or indications of vindictive hopelessness?

You know, there is that book about never being successful without going through that school of failure. Are the people of the world out besting us?

Sometimes I imagine of intentionally going through this school of failure in the spiritual sphere, just to be able to acquire its equivalent success, as of its world's counterpart. What do you think? Sin is unwholesome and is even unfit to dwell on... so goes our saying. I would like be free of fear and make choices not based on fear because it would not be me... And to be free, I would have to confront and accept the monsters presence without turning into one.

Let us outdo all of those sumptuous personality trainings, like Dale Carnegie and etc., which is easy to say and a heck to do.

Anyway, enough of my windings and I welcome your thoughts to this thread.

Spirits,

Raphael

[Gail]

Quote:

I have never seen or read anything mentioning the origin of those two paths but I do remember the terrifying stress on the end's paths, that of heaven and hell.

Jesus talked about the broad way and the narrow way. This isn't an SDA teaching per se but from the Lord Himself- Matthew 7:13,14 and Luke 13:24

Satan makes the way easy by placing desires in front of us that allure us and tempt our sinful natures. Also, it is the lazy way. The Bible calls us to put on God's armour (get ready for battle) and also likens the Christian path to a race to be run.

The broad way may seem to take less effort but it is wrought with fears, sorrow and lack of peace. In that way it really isn't that much easier at all.

[Beryl]

Quote:

The broad way may seem to take less effort but it is wrought with fears, sorrow and lack of peace. In that way it really isn't that much easier at all.

Also, it is a downhill path! It may look as though it is just a "detour", but I can well remember getting lost on one of those "detours". It happened at night, when I took what appeared to me to be the correct turning -- but it wasn't! I soon found myself on a narrow road going who knows where! Turning around was not an option. And the petrol guage was getting lower! Fortunately, this "detour" had a happy ending. Just in time I came to a main road near to a petrol station, where I was able to refill, find my bearings, and head homeward.

However, in my experience, "spiritual detours" have a far less chance of having happy endings. God knew what He was doing when He chose to speak of the path to heaven being a "narrow way", where we would have to use some "spiritual muscle" to make the grade.

No-one has ever won the Olympics without losing a lot of sweat! To achieve anything worthwhile in THIS life costs a lot of sweat, pain and effort. To expect anything less in the battle for eternal life is not very realistic.

People will spend years training for the Olympics for the hope of a gold medal. God has offered us the CERTAINTY of eternal life, all for the "cost(?)" of allowing Him to guide our "training".

God bless,

Beryl

[Beryl]

Quote:

"there is that book about never being successful without going through that school of failure. Are the people of the world out besting us?"

"There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof is the way of death" Pov. 14:12

[LifeHiscost]

No-one has ever won the Olympics without losing a lot of sweat! To achieve anything worthwhile in THIS life costs a lot of sweat, pain and effort. To expect anything less in the battle for eternal life is not very realistic.

People will spend years training for the Olympics for the hope of a gold medal. God has offered us the CERTAINTY of eternal life, all for the "cost(?)" of allowing Him to guide our "training".

God bless,

Beryl

Perhaps another thought expressed from the Word would give some encouragment to those who have found hardship the most prominent influence in their Christian walk.

"Come to Me, all of you who work and have heavy loads. I will give you rest. Follow My teachings and learn from Me. I am gentle and do not have pride. You will have rest for your souls. For My way of carrying a load is easy and My load is not heavy." Matt 11:29,30 NLT

Sad to say, many who read this Scripture believe since their life does not reflect those thoughts, the Word needs to be changed or it must mean something different than the obvious meaning, a sidestep that makes it convenient to place hardship to someone or something other than personally changes.

"Every way of a man [is] right in his own eyes, And Jehovah is pondering hearts." Proverbs 21:2 YLT

Regards!

[LifeHiscost]

...a sidestep that makes it convenient to place hardship to someone or something other than personally changes.

(Underlined should have read, "other than personal changes".

"Every way of a man [is] right in his own eyes, And Jehovah is pondering hearts." Proverbs 21:2 YLT

Regards!

[Raphael]

Thank you Gail, Beryl and LifeHiscost for your valuable thoughts, your great opinions are highly appreciated.

May I expound further on the distinctiveness of the path.

A path defines implications of a journey. While a journey exhibits natures of progress. Progress itself showcases stages, phases or periods that one has to go through. A growth of becoming an adult goes through steps that one can not simply declare void due to his or her belief that God will intervene and bring adulthood about through faith.

Actually, there may be another illustration clarifying the misguided notions of the path. Who were they that Christ declared to be the first among the saved to enter heaven? Were they the obedient, as obedience in SDA's perception of conduct? Were they the humanly visible pillars of our churches and denomination? ...were not they the harlots of the street (included too, are high class call girls, I suppose, though they may not be on the 'streets'.) and sinners who publicly declared their vileness and commanded our utterly 'holy' despise? Where were they on the path, those that Christ affirmed to be first to enter heaven. The thief who hung besides Christs cross, did he ever traverse the narrow path except for that few final seconds with Christ?

We as SDA's, need to be more aggressively environmentally friendly, not only on Green Peace's ad vocations but also to be more forthcoming with iniquity and sinners that constitutes the milieu we contrive in. Sin is something to contend with, not to be allergic with. If one wishes to contend through allergies, well, that could be another topic on how best to 'humanly deal with sin'.

I like the story of the two fellows who both had a lawn in their front yard. The first fella was a very error driven person and daily investigated his lawn for weeds of which he would indignantly get rid of. He watered his and mowed his lawn till the time came where his lawn looked in good shaped. The second fella was a very 'lazy' driven and went to town to fetch himself a bag of grass seedlings or seeds. Every now and then he would take short-lived moments to disseminate the grass seeds, water and mow the his lawn. When the time came, this 'lazy' driven fellow's lawn looked better, lusher and of greater quality than his neighbor, the error driven fella who spent more energy, frustration (it is called righteous anger or indignation) and time with poorer results.

In spiritual definitions, the error driven person are those who enjoy in a way, the hunt for the sticks and straws, as EG terms. Progress may be achieved but with lots of needless pain

and hurt upon one's self and others, plus with the less then great results. While the 'lazy' driven chap enjoys terrific progress without the unnecessary ache and effort and 'glides along'.

Those who grew up in families of great character are most fortunate to be exposed to this continual dissemination of great character seed, growing up into strengths of character with the unneeded sore that many go through. While those of less fortune have to find ways to obtain this dissemination forms through support groups of any kind. While the 'error' driven fella will always be a bane to his or herself and to others immediate to him or her.

The lawn and the grass is akin to Christ's parable of the sower who sowed everywhere. The difference is, the former is a modern lawn in a present-day city of an avant-garde chap. Now do not say me that I am changing the Bible ... ok?

I have got to prepare myself to be a 'pleasure of my company' to the Chinese Ambassador. Please pray for me that I may fulfill God's ordains here on earth in my roles as an individual, community member and etc.

God bless you all,

Raphael

[LifeHiscost]

Thank you Gail, Beryl and LifeHiscost for your valuable thoughts, your great opinions are highly appreciated.

I have got to prepare myself to be a 'pleasure of my company' to the Chinese Ambassador. Please pray for me that I may fulfill God's ordains here on earth in my roles as an individual, community member and etc.

God bless you all,

Raphael

Thank you for your kind thoughts, Raphael. Since all goodness is of God, it seems only appropriate to give credit to the body of Christ for much of the success that reveals a risen Lord. I have no doubt by placing yourself in Jesus' hands, the prayers of the saints will be fulfilled for your success.

"And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give.... " 1 Samuel 17:47 KJV

God bless!