Truth at First Light:
The Words of Jesus Christ
Enter in at the strait gate. For wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat. Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads to life, and few be there that find it.
--Matthew 7: 13-14
Following the Crowd
I was listening to Stu Epperson's Christian ("Truth Talk Live") talk radio broadcast the other day and the program was about the Harry Potter books. Epperson's guest was a man who has written a book called "Finding God in Harry Potter." Essentially, this man--who professes to be an orthodox Christian by the way--is arguing that the Harry Potter books are not harmful to our children (or anyone for that matter), despite the fact that they are basically a how-to on witchcraft. Most importantly, one of the author's main justifications for the books being harmless is their sheer popularity as reflected in the numbers of sales (250 million copies). How could 250 million people be wrong? Needless to say, I almost fell out of my seat when I heard him.
Jesus speaks of following the popular way to go in Matthew 7:13-14. As you can see, the popular way to go is more than likely the way that goes against God. The teachings of our Lord were not very popular in His day, and it hasn't gotten any better. In fact, at least in the United States, more and more the popular culture is turning away from the basic foundations of God's commandments. Homosexuality is becoming more popular than it has ever been. Does this mean that we should follow this way simply because it is popular? Immorality in all degrees and venues has always been popular, but does it change God's commandments regarding such behavior? As we go through life, we will be faced with many choices--to follow the crowd, or follow Christ. More often than not, the two choices will be at odds with each other as illustrated by the Lord's words.
Last summer I was driving to Raleigh to attend a Promise Keepers meeting. I was on I-40 and in heavy traffic as it seems to frequently occur in Raleigh. When I stayed to the right to exit from I-40 onto Wade Avenue to go the RBC Center, I noticed that only a few cars were exiting with me--and many more stayed on the highway. I thought it was odd that there would be so few cars going this way--whether they were going to the meeting or not. Then the Lord gave me a sobering revelation: "This is how it will be with My kingdom. Only a few will choose My kingdom and many will choose to perish." Then He reminded me of the verses from Matthew. Because strait is the gate and narrow is the way, which leads to life, and few there be that find it.
The Bible says: There is a way that seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. [Proverbs 16:25] When we become so naïve to believe that the ways of man are better than the ways of God, we have become blind and fallen in a ditch. Jesus commands us to follow Him, and if we refuse to follow Him, we have, by default, chosen to follow the prince of this world. The next time you're faced with a decision and the majority says to go this way, I suggest you take the opposite road because more than likely, it will be the road called "The Will of God."
Prayer: "Father in Heaven. Thank You for Your Word and direction in my life. I will be faced with choices today and throughout all my life. In the name of Jesus, I ask that you direct my path and give me the boldness to choose to follow You instead of the crowd. Amen."
