The last few days have been terrifying for the residents in West Colorado Springs. Massive fires from dry weather and exasibated by driving winds to the east have moved from the country at Waldo right to the outskirts of South and West Colorado Springs were many have lost their homes.
I have noticed some things over the years. One is that people look for the easy route! The path of least resistance is the one that many knowingly or without noticing take. Now
before you go off looking at the Bible and stories about the blessing
of the smooth road and how God has blessed many with a trouble free
journey, before you look at all the references quoted for prosperity
theology- a doubtful theology until the late eighties- are we not to
take our lot as it happens? Has strict Calvinism got it right ? Why is it? Stay with it.
Are some, to find that their road is tougher than others. So
in our subconscious are we looking for the blessing sign be looking for
the path of least resistance? It is easy to do this.When I read Michael
Faraday's biography its not like that. Bruce and the spider story is
not about that either! (No its not in the Bible). Why is it? Esther's
road was not plain sailing and she spent a whole year preparing for one
day with the King! Is it a wrong way to travel the broad road looking
for the easy bit and collate that, as the narrow way fit for King
servants? The narrow way may be less broad by definition but it is more than likely a more troublesome way than the “broad way”.
Why is it then? Because we are lazy be human nature? Because we want all “nice” things to come our way! Perhaps we need to redefine “Good things that come our way”- As the things that God purposely puts our way to improve our relation with Him- Be it a new car or a broken leg!
The
culture of today is about success measured by accumulation of wealth
seen in goods and the ability to buy goods at any cost, modern or post
modern. Yet the real success is the ability to be in a strong
relation with the Father and the ability to worship him...at what costs?
Preparing for the oneday to be with the King. Seeking the Kingdom first is becoming more obscure to the society we live in. The
behaviour of “pleasing” the neighbour at the expense of one self's
destiny/Zoe life/walk/seeking God's will, is as strong as before.
So
how are you going to be determined to walk the talk of the glorious
journey set out before you ( and maybe made before you!) The choice is
there in a strict Calvinistic way! If nothing is going to separate you from God then that is a struggle worth winning. So
seek the narrow way whatever that means and be aware that it may mean
struggle rather than the stream that seeks the easy path through the
hard ground to the river, to the sea.