I have written in other articles about the narrow path. A path, that when you take your spiritual walk on, it can be very hard at times – just like the physical walk that Christ took while he was on this earth. Why can you not obtain Heaven by another path? Because this is the path that Christ took, and we can only get there by following in His footsteps. And where does the path start? It starts at the foot of the cross.
The world seems to think if you do good deeds, or give gifts to charitable organizations, or just be a nice person, that you are qualified to enter Heaven. Being good is what I see in countless “religious” movies I have seen. If you just say you are a Christian, or if you were raised in a Christian home – you are qualified. These theories that we all are on the same path and if we all coexist together we have a god that grants us all equal access all sounds really good to our ears. These philosophies present a god that not only grants access for all to Heaven, but after time, and prayer, and possibly gifts of money to the church – you can even buy your deceased relatives a ticket on this Heaven train! If you believe in this afterlife, we are all OK! This way, everyone can go thru life, living however they please, whether it is in the manual that God gave to us or not.
Where is this manual, you ask? It is the Holy Bible, the book that of late has been getting hacked to pieces by factions that want a worldview they want instead of the view God has given. People continually remove and add to the Word of God so that the Utopian Paradise they think they will get on earth by accepting all lifestyles and philosophies, even and especially those that God Himself has forbidden in His Word. Paul said it this way:
“For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.”
“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness: but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”
“For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”
I Corinthians 1:17-19
In other words, you guys can come up with all sorts of flowery, enticing speeches that sound wonderful, but the truths of God are the only thing that will matter when everything is done to the end. And also:
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”
Romans 8:1-2
A very wise pastor once said to me, when I cannot seem to think of anything else to preach about, I always look to the cross. I think that is a good sentiment, but just maybe he could not come up with another sermon on those occasions because the cross is the very first thing that should be expounded upon! Maybe God was saying to that man is what all people need to begin with. To start at the cross, to be covered by the blood, to then be able to walk upon that sometimes hard, sometimes treacherous, narrow winding road that leads to Heaven.
Come to the cross. Let His blood cover you. Get started on the road.
P.S. It has been pointed out to me that this article is pretty similar to one of the past articles, About The Cross. I will say this about that – for the same reason the Holy Spirit was probably telling that pastor I was referring to in the last paragraph – this subject needs to be continually expounded upon. The cross is the place where our Christian journey begins. Keep expounding the cross!
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross, And exchange it some day for a crown.
– George Bennard
AE
Matthew 27 When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:
2 And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
6 And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.
7 And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in.
8 Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.
9 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value;
10 And gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord appointed me.
11 And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.
12 And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.
13 Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?
14 And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.
15 Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.
16 And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.
17 Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?
18 For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.
19 When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.
20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
21 The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.
22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.
23 And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.
24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.
26 Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.
28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.
29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!
30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.
31 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.
32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.
33 And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,
34 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.
35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.
36 And sitting down they watched him there;
37 And set up over his head his accusation written, This Is Jesus The King Of The Jews.
38 Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.
39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,
40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,
42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.
44 The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.
45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
47 Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias.
48 And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.
49 The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.
50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
55 And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:
56 Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedees children.
57 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple:
58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.
59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.
61 And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.
62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,
63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.
Why would God send his son to die for me? The answer is simple. He loves me. He wants to rescue me. We can hear the story of Christ’s death on the cross. We can have head knowledge of what he did for us, but if we never accept the free gift of salvation through Christ’s shed blood we will not be going to heaven.
God’s plan is not for any to perish. He wants all to come to repentance. We are running out of time to receive him. Every moment marks the passing of time. We don’t know how long we have here on earth. This earthly life is only temporary. Make sure you have secured your home in heaven before it’s too late.
GA
Voice of the Introverts 