May 3
Judg 17:1-18:31 | PS 104:1-24 | Prov 14:20-21 | John 3:1-21
In Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus discusses two gates and two paths, one that is narrow and difficult, the other being wide and easy. These paths lead to two eternal destinations, the narrow one leading to heaven, the wide one to hell. What we need to understand is that we all begin life on that wide path. We don't start off good and innocent on the narrow path. We don't find ourselves on that wide path through mistakes and bad decisions. We are all born in flesh. This is not a decision, it is a fact. In this state, on that wrong path, the best that we can hope for is to be better than other sinners on that same wide path. When Jesus tells us we must be like little children, it is that children are not yet fixed in their position. They are willing to listen, and change direction. We must understand that children offer very little in their own strength and left to their own devices. Most don't realize that, likewise, we offer nothing in ourselves to place us on that right path. This is why the vast majority don't get it. We don't veer onto the right path, we must open our eyes, realize that we are on the wrong path, look unto Jesus realizing He is the only way to get onto that right path, then make a choice to change paths. So simple, and yet so difficult. It is why Jesus said in Matthew 5:3, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven". Unless we empty ourselves of this self-righteous pride, this self-will which keeps us on that wide path, we can't change paths, and eternity in heaven is impossible.
We read in John 3:1-2, "There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”" As we read through the Gospel accounts we often erroneously view the Pharisees as the "bad guys" or God's enemies. They were the Who's Who in religion. They were the ones who were looked up to in order to get closer to God, the epitome of being as good as you can be. If anyone were perceived to be on the right path, it would be them. Jesus takes charge of the conversation by telling him that he needed to about face, not add on to his perceived goodness, as we read in 3:3, "Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”" You can't blame Nicodemus who has difficulty comprehending what Jesus stated, so Jesus says again in 3:5-6, "Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." Nicodemus being an expert of the law, Jesus goes onto give a visual analogy of what being born again was in 3:14-17, "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." In the example from Numbers 21:4-9, nothing was required for those bitten by the poisonous snakes to survive other than to simply look at the Bronze Serpent on the pole.
Jesus was clear, there are only two choices: the flesh or the spirit. We are all born in the flesh. We must understand this flesh can be in a nice family, getting a good education, marrying one that you love, raising children that you love, getting a good job and acting honorably in that job, etc. No one would look down on any of these things, but realize your starting point, in the flesh has not changed, nor has the path that you are set on. No matter how good you might have walked on this path, it ends in death, and hell. At some point, we must look upon Jesus, the Author and Finisher of the race, our Bronze Serpent, the only One who has the power to direct us onto the right path. He has already paid the price. Our sins are on the cross, placed there two thousand years ago. We must be willing to repent or change our minds. We need to see ourselves for the hopeless flesh that we are. Jesus loves us. He is calling us. The question is will we listen. This is the most important choice that any of us will make. This is an individual choice. We cannot make it for anyone else, not even our own children. He gives each of us free will. So, please consider the path that you are on, and make that decision. Please don't procrastinate and wait until tomorrow. We never know when our path on earth comes to an end.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: