The Path to Life

Collins Concise Dictionary defines the word path as:

1. A road or way, esp. a narrow trodden track.

2. A surfaced walk, as through a garden.

3. The course or direction in which something moves: the path of a whirlwind.

4. A course of conduct: the path of virtue.

When we think of a path we assume that it leads to a destination. Every path has a beginning and an ending. There are of course millions of paths in this world of ours. However, there is only one path to eternal life.

Matthew 7:13, 14, "(13) Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. (14) Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life [eternal], and there are few who find it."

The scenario that the Lord Jesus Christ is unfolding is that the way to eternal life is contrary to the way that leads to destruction.

In 2011 in a previous blog post titled 'Broad is the way that leads to destruction' I penned these words. "The way to destruction is broad and spacious, lots of room for lots of people. All these are heading along life’s journey; some are happy, some sad, some careless, some fearful, some high-minded, some low-minded, some rich and many poor.

Proverbs 14:12, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”

People of every nation are caught in the throngs heading to destruction. It is a one way street! They entered in through the wide gate. The way ahead looked good and there was plenty of room. If so many people are doing it; surely it must be OK? There are plenty of friends and relatives to keep you company along the way.

The narrow gate on the other hand is hard to find. The way to [eternal] life is difficult. Satan does not want you on this pathway, your unsaved friends and relatives don’t want you on this pathway. Obstacles will be put in your way. But, it is your choice and your decision to choose either life or death. God wants you to enter into life [eternal] via the narrow gate."

Perhaps an incident from my own life will help at this juncture. When I was a younger man I worked in the Central Business District (CBD) in Sydney, Australia.  People walking along the footpaths always seemed to be in a hurry, especially at lunch time. This particular day seemed busier than most. I needed to go into a particular department store which meant crossing the stream of people coming towards me.

Sounds easy! It wasn't! The people behind me were in such a hurry they were tending to push me past the entrance to the department store. I managed to stop; then I had to cut across all the people heading in the opposite direction who did not want to give way to this person blocking their progress. It required dedication and persistence to get to the entrance of the department store.

The entrance to the department store was narrow and the way to it was difficult and so also is the path to eternal life. The people who hindered me getting into the department store would not have spared me a thought except for the obvious; I was an obstacle in their way that needed to be gotten rid of!

John 14:6, "Jesus said to him [Thomas], 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me'."

John 3:16, "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."

Let me repeat the words I quoted above. "Satan does not want you on this pathway, your unsaved friends and relatives don’t want you on this pathway. Obstacles will be put in your way. But, it is your choice and your decision to choose either life or death. God wants you to enter into life [eternal] via the narrow gate."

Jon Peasey

Words of Life blog www.jrpeasey.blogspot.com

Ebooks author page https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/JRPeasey

[All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version; unless otherwise noted. Words enclosed in [ ] are inserted for clarity. Words in bold type emphasise a point. You may notice some verses are quoted with ... at the beginning, ending or elsewhere in a verse. Only the relevant part or parts of the verse, that relate directly to the current subject matter is quoted.]

[If you have any questions or comments you are invited to contact me via the comments section below.]

This same Jesus

This phrase by itself leaves us wondering what the subject will be concerned with. Yet it also implies that this 'Jesus' is the same as a 'Jesus' who is already known.

Let's look at the verse in the Scriptures where this phrase is found. Acts 1:11 states, "...Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."

This verse immediately points us to the ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ into heaven.

Indeed if we look at the preceding verses we find that:

(a) Jesus was with His disciples for 40 days after He rose from among the dead.

(b) Now He is ready to ascend into heaven.

(c) While His disciples watch He is taken up from them and a cloud receives Him out of their sight.

Then two men in white apparel inform the disciples that this very same Jesus will come again the same way as He went up to heaven,

This same Jesus is the very person who carried out a myriad of miracles for people and then willingly went to the cross at Calvary to lay down His life in payment of their sins.

This same Jesus rose up from among the dead after three days and then was seen by many disciples for the next 40 days. On the fortieth day He ascended to God the Father. This ascension was only witnessed by Jesus' disciples. It was hidden to the world at large.

Where did He ascend from? Acts 1:12 informs us that His disciples returned from "...the mount called Olivet..." which is very close to Jerusalem. The Mount of Olives is where Jesus ascended from.

Luke 24:50, 51 informs us, "(50) And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. (51) Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven." Bethany is located on the eastern slopes of the Mount of Olives.

Can we assume that the Mount of Olives is where He will return to? Do the Scriptures give us any indication that this is the place of His return?

The Old Testament prophet Zechariah gives us a very clear indication of where the Lord Jesus Christ will return to. When He returns in great power and glory it is a time of judgement on the nations!

Let’s go to Zechariah for his prophecy about this time in Israel. Zechariah 14:1, 2 tell us, “(1) Behold, the day of the Lord is coming, and your spoil shall be divided in your midst. (2) For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; the city shall be taken, the houses rifled, and the women ravished. Half of the city shall go into captivity, but the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city.”  This is Armageddon!

Israel is in extreme peril! There is no possible way any human intervention can save the nation! Only God can save them out of this terrible situation. Zechariah 14:3 states, “Then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle.”  Matthew24:27 tells us, “For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the Son of Man be.”

The Lord Jesus Christ will suddenly appear as quickly as a flash of lightning. Let’s read on in Matthew 24:29, 30, “(29) Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. (30) Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”

Let’s pick up the time sequence from Zechariah 14:4, 5, “(4) And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two, from east to west, making a very large valley; half of the mountain shall move toward the north and half of it toward the south. (5) Then you shall flee through My mountain valley, for the mountain valley shall reach to Azal. Yes, you shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Thus the Lord my God will come, and all the saints with You.”

Jerusalem will be saved by a great miracle; a huge earthquake will occur when the Lord Jesus Christ stands on the Mount of Olives. A huge valley will be formed for the inhabitants of Jerusalem and Judea to flee to safety.

Zechariah 14:12, 13 give us the judgement on the invading nations. “(12)...Their flesh shall dissolve while they stand on their feet, their eyes shall dissolve in their sockets, and their tongues shall dissolve in their mouths. (13) It shall come to pass in that day that a great panic from the Lord will be among them. Everyone will seize the hand of his neighbour, and raise his hand against his neighbour’s hand.”

This is the same Jesus whom the disciples saw ascending to heaven! It is not now the man who was crucified on a cross. This is the resurrected man who comes to rule the nations in righteousness! This is Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of Man, the Son of God, the King of the Jews, King of kings and Lord of lords - God the Son!

Is He your Lord and Saviour?

Jon Peasey

Words of Life blog www.jrpeasey.blogspot.com

Ebooks author page https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/JRPeasey

[All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version; unless otherwise noted. Words enclosed in [ ] are inserted for clarity. Words in bold type emphasise a point. You may notice some verses are quoted with ... at the beginning, ending or elsewhere in a verse. Only the relevant part or parts of the verse, that relate directly to the current subject matter is quoted.]

[If you have any questions or comments you are invited to contact me via the comments section below.]

The Power of Resurrection

What is your understanding of the act of resurrection? Most people, I am sure, would agree it is the act of bringing back to life someone or something that was dead. So the verb 'resurrect' conveys the thought of bringing back to life, or raising from the dead. The noun 'resurrection' conveys a finished act.

What then is the power of resurrection? Surely it is something completely outside the scope of a dead person! A dead body conveys a stark reality; the complete absence of life! A dead person is utterly unable to resurrect himself. So this leads us to the question; why do we die? Why must we die? Death is universal; why is this so?

The answer is in the Holy Scriptures. Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death..."

If we work diligently for an employer or a boss we expect a just and equitable reward for the work we have done. This principle carries over to our personal standing before God. Ezekiel 18:4 tells us, "Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine; the soul who sins shall die," So death is the just reward for sinning!

Let's now look at the full verse in Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." So we all deserve death for sinning! But God in His grace and mercy offers us the gift of eternal life! If someone gives you a gift all you have to do is receive it. You can't pay for it, or work for it. You haven't earned it. If the gift was consequent on you doing any of those things then it is no longer a gift but a reward.

To receive God's gift of eternal life it can only be received from one person - Jesus Christ our Lord.

OK what if we reach out and receive the gift of eternal life and God gives it to us. How come I die and they bury my body? Surely eternal life means that I will live forever in eternity? The answer is Yes, Yes, Yes - I will live forever in eternity; but not in this body I am presently in, which is made for me to inhabit the earth.

That is God's power of resurrection, when He resurrects my earthly body He will give me a new spiritual body fit for heaven and eternity with Him.

Let's look at 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17:

"(14) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep [have died] in Jesus.

(15) For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.

(16) For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

(17) Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord."

Here is the awesome power of resurrection on display! This is the resurrection of life spoken of by the Lord Jesus in John 5:28, 29, "(28) Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice (29) and come forth - those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation."  Two resurrections - the resurrection of life and the resurrection of condemnation!

Don't be like the Jews that Jesus spoke to in John 5: 40, "But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life [eternal]." They will be in the resurrection of condemnation [judgement].

There is new life in Christ and it is abundant and it is free - it is the gift of God!

Jon Peasey

Words of Life blog www.jrpeasey.blogspot.com

Ebooks author page https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/JRPeasey

[All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version; unless otherwise noted. Words enclosed in [ ] are inserted for clarity. Words in bold type emphasise a point.  You may notice some verses are quoted with ... at the beginning, ending or elsewhere in a verse. Only the relevant part or parts of the verse that relate directly to the current subject matter is quoted.]

[If you have any questions or comments you are invited to contact me via the comments section below.]