The Truth
The question was asked, “What is truth?” (John 18:38) Truth comes from above. For example:
there was a particular pig which passed through a meadow one day, and while passing through found
some delicious peaches. The pig ate all of the peaches then went on its way. Later the pig came back
to this very meadow, and searched all around the ground that neared the tree from which the peaches
fell. Finding none, it begins to dig into the ground. This foolish pig didn’t know the fruit came from
the branches above. Jesus told the Jews in the temple, “Ye are from beneath; I am from above.”
(John 8:23)
If you desire to be valiant for Jesus you must be valiant for truth, (Jeremiah 9:3) because many through
deceit refuse to know Him. (Jeremiah 9:6)
The truth will cost you. For many the price is too high, but for others it is not. Because, “The race is
not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong,” but it is the grace of God working in us and our faith
working in Him.
Truth is sharper than any two-edged sword separating the soul from the spirit. It divides. When truth
comes, will you allow it to set you apart from this world, or from having loved the world be eternally
divided from God?
Jesus says to the church, “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire.” (Revelation 3:18)
Could the gold which He mentions here be truth? “Buy the truth, and do not sell it, also wisdom,
instruction, and understanding.” (Proverbs 23:23) It could be indeed! For the present faith and
doctrine of the church needs to be refined as gold in the fire. Today you can purchase several qualities
of gold, such as eight to twenty two karat, but twenty four karat is pure gold. The lesser qualities are
alloyed with other metals, much like today’s doctrines. People buy the lesser quality because it is
cheaper, yet keeps its appeal.
Men have mixed the truth with lies to pad their crosses and comfort their guilt, forgetting that the truth
may not feel so good on earth but it is a lot more comfortable than an eternity in the lake of fire. You
may think I am being hard but I care about your soul. An enemy of your soul is a person whose
counsel leads you to stay in rebellion against the true teachings of the Bible, but a shepherd of your
soul, speaks the truth to you in love, even when you are going through a difficult time, especially then,
because you are more likely to be tempted. They are leading you to a fountain of life, for the fear of
the LORD is a fountain of life, turning one from the snares of death. (Proverbs 14:27) To fear the
Lord is to hate evil and love righteousness.
Now if we do not love what He loves, and hate what He hates,
How then shall we, expect to enter through His gates?
If righteousness and holiness are not appealing to you, then Jesus must not be either. And what does
this say about you? For Jesus is that Pearl of great price, which the merchant went and sold all that he
had and bought it, (Matthew 13:45-46) and again, “If a man would give for love all the wealth of His
house, it would be utterly despised.” (Song of Solomon 8:7)
The greatest trial you must face as a Christian is not cancer, diabetes, sickness, poverty or any such
temporal thing; for the greatest trial is being valiant for truth when all those around you love seduction,
false hood, and ignorance.
The trial that is most significant is not the one before the judges of this world, but the trial which awaits
every person before the Judge of all the earth, who made the world and all its judges.
What is a lie?
A lie is that which deceives and disappoints confidence. (Webster’s 1828) If someone asks you for
the truth and you tell them a lie, you are a liar. All liars shall have their part in the lake which burns
with fire and brimstone. (Revelation 21:8) Exaggeration can be a lie. The stories of our lives speak
for themselves. Are we liars by what we say, or by what we do, or both?
Live Like There is a Resurrection
Jesus said, “I am the truth.” Truth comes from two Greek words meaning “not concealed.” He was
saying, “I am the Revelation.” But what or who was He revealing? "I am the way and the truth and
the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my
Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."Philip said, "Lord, show us the
Father and that will be enough for us."Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have
been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” (John 14:6-9)
Jesus came to reveal God as our Father, His Kingdom which is not of this world, and our place in that
Kingdom through the resurrection.
His resurrection teaches us of another reality far superior than the world in which we live. When a
Christian realizes that Jesus will raise him up on the last day he loses his worldly ambitions, interests
and aspirations. The person who loves these things loves vanity. They are living as though they were
already dead. It is like a person working his whole life, and placing all of his earnings into an oven.
When all is burned, the wind blows, and the ashes are dispersed into the air. But, “What profit has he
who has labored for the wind?” (Ecclesiastes 5:16) Think of it—a man works his entire life, he goes
to school, gets a degree, gets a job, finds a wife, buys a house, has children, watches them grow, and
then he dies.
But if he did not instruct his children in righteousness, lead them to the narrow gate, and teach them the
narrow way; if he did not take up his cross, deny himself, and follow Jesus; if he did not love Jesus
more than wife, or father or mother or children; if he did not come out from the world, and live in the
world as a witness of the truth; if he did not pursue love, peace, and holiness; if he didn’t help the
stranger, care for the poor, minister to the sick, comfort the feeble-minded, and bear the infirmities of
the weak; if he lived for himself, turned a deaf ear to dying humanity, remained prayer less in his
personal life at home; if he did not delight in the fellowship of the saints, nor was refreshed by
wholesome conversation; if he was contented with mediocrity and lethargy, if he blended in with
sinners, if he wasn’t to the world what light is to darkness having no righteousness which exposes their
corruption, then the sum of his life was at best, vanity and grasping for the wind, for he lived as though
there is no resurrection! As it is written, “I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that
there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. This being so, I myself always
strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.” (Acts 24:15-16)
Beloved I assure you that there shall be a resurrection, and that nature itself testifies to this truth. For a
seed of grain—perhaps wheat, oats, or some other grain, if it goes into the ground and dies, it shall
rise. “But some man will say, ‘How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?’” (1
Corinthians 15:35) God gives to all things a body as He pleases. For not all creatures have the same
body. The life within each fruit and herb bearing seed have their own body, as well as, all living
creatures have their own flesh. For all flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh of men,
another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds. (1 Corinthians 15:39) Now the life
within the seeds, as well as the life within men is sown into corruption, that is, the body of seeds and
men both die. But the seed lives another day; for when the body of the seed dies, the life which was
unseen is now visible to all through the tree springing up from the earth. Now we know that there is
life within us, which is not decaying, as our bodies are. For the mind—thoughts, feelings, and will,
survive the destruction of the flesh. But is it practical to show a person an apple seed and tell them it is
an apple tree? For the hope of every apple seed is to one day become an apple tree! Now if the Seed
of Christ be in you, what then shall we be? For the apostle says, “It is sown a natural body, it is raised
a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, “The first
man Adam became a living being.”The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is
not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the
second Man is the Lord from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust;
and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of
the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.” (1Corinthians 15:44-49)
Those who belong to Christ are born of the Spirit and His Seed remains in them; (1 John 3:9) and as
when we were born into this world we were clothed with flesh, so it will be when we leave the womb
of this world, we shall be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven. (2 Corinthians 5:2) Now
those born of God are, in reality, strangers and pilgrims on the earth. (Hebrews 11:13) For those who
have been justified must live by faith. (Hebrews 10:38) Living by faith shows on the outside the work
of justification which God did on the inside. They therefore seek a homeland, desiring a better, that is,
heavenly country, (Hebrews 11:14-16) expressing these yearnings through holiness, charity,
contentment, and through much prayer. They live now like those who are visiting another land: their
preparations, ambitions, and belongings reflect their length of stay. Do people usually devote
themselves to learn the entire language of a country, which if they go, stay no more than a few days,
which also are certain of never returning there again? Remember the apostle’s words, “And if you call
on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves
throughout the time of your stay here in fear.” (1 Peter 1:17)
His resurrection also declares that every word He spoke was true. For no liar would be declared the
Son of God with power according to the Spirit of Holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.
(Romans 1:4) Therefore take heed that you carefully study and follow Jesus’ teachings.
Two Worlds
But concerning those who live like there is no resurrection the apostle has this to say, “For the time has
come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begins with us, what shall the end be
of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the
ungodly and the sinner appear?” (1 Peter 4:17-18) Two worlds mentioned in this passage are the
sinner and the ungodly, but the righteous, through faith in Jesus Christ are born between them.
Both worlds of wickedness are damned forever.
The word sinners refer to those apart from Christ and ungodly relates to those who keep with the
formalities of religion, who name the name of Christ, but do not depart from iniquity. The world of the
sinners is as darkness to our eyes, but the world of the ungodly has an appearance of light, therefore a
greater caution is necessary concerning the latter. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to
men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. (Matthew 23:28) Today the churches are
drowning in ungodliness and any attempting to swim up to the surface of Jesus’ standard, the same
churches endeavor to pull back under.
Love the Truth
The end of the ungodly and sinner is certain for they did not receive the love the truth that they might
be saved, as stated, “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all
power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because
they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send
them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be damned who did not believe
the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)
What does the phrase, “Lying wonders” mean? I think of all the people in congregations filled with
emotional hype and the leaders of these people eat it up, as they display an array of lying wonders
portrayed as testimonies from their elaborately decorated stages. But many times these stages are
crowded with faith filled people, hoping to be touched by the pastor or evangelist who are so desperate
for their healings, but when they leave the service they are no better than when they came. These
same people are taught to hold fast their confession of faith without wavering. And I agree with this
teaching, as the scripture says, “He [Abraham] did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief,
but was strengthened in faith giving glory to God.” (Romans 4:20) But throughout Jesus’ ministry as
well as the disciples’, I see the multitudes healed, praising God for the manifestation of grace in their
bodies. They were changed. I do not see in the New Testament where the apostles preached, then
prayed, and asked for those who were healed to come before the crowds and testify. Healing miracles
were witnessed where they happened. Why give opportunity for such lawless shows to continue?
However I do not see a problem with approaching a person who obviously has an infirmity and healing
them. Sadly, in many places these lying wonders are to give credibility to the minister’s faith and
doctrine. I see such strong deception here because the people think that if God is using this person in
such a way then their message must be the truth, but much of their doctrine is not according to
godliness, that is, the fear of the Lord. This is sad because of the poor needy souls who have perishing
loved ones, and are willing to try anything to make them well. Though they feel that something isn’t
right, out of desperation they deny these feelings, holding on to the hope of a supposed man of God
who is filled with lawlessness and teaches his congregation to commit sexual immorality. Swayed by
the thousands of other followers of these organizations they persevere, but often looking in the wrong
direction. It also seems that these followers do not love the truth, but the organization which feeds
their hopes and selfish ambitions. For if they begin to see the reflection of their church in the mirror of
God’s word as a harlot, and do not repent and reprove them, but rather continue in error and lewdness
not loving the truth, the apostle says, “For this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they
should believe the lie, that they all may be damned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in
unrighteousness.”
Besides, these ministers who turn away ill and severely oppressed multitudes after a long show of
wonders must be the most selfish people on earth. Jesus healed all who came to Him, “But when
Jesus knew it [that the Pharisees were plotting to kill Him], He withdrew from there. And great
multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all.” (Matthew 12:15) I also do not see His disciples
turning people away, “A multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick
people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.” (Acts 5:16)
People wake up! Do you honestly believe that Jesus would preach for an hour, heal for an hour, and
look at His watch then say, “Oh, it is nine o’clock, time to go home?” Certainly not! Jesus even went
so far as to provide for their basic needs, as it is written, “When it was evening, His disciples came to
Him, saying, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they
may go into the villages and buy themselves food.” But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go
away. You give them something to eat.” (Matthew 14:15-16) Genuine healing virtue would compel
the person to go the extra mile.
There are two wonders we should consider: their names are John and Jonah. These two preached and
brought about some of the most powerful revivals in history. But how did these arise? Out of
powerful preaching!
Do miracles happen? Is healing still possible? Certainly! But these are accomplished for the purpose
of repentance, “Then He [Jesus] began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had
been done, because they did not repent.” (Matthew 11:20) In fact, those who are healed will be under
greater condemnation if they do not turn away from their sins, “And you, Capernaum, who are exalted
to heaven, will be brought down to Hell; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been
done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable
for the land of Sodom in the Day of Judgment than for you.” (Matthew 11:23-24) Notice Jesus did
not merely say they would be humbled, but brought down to Hell!
Now remember that the faces of the ungodly may look very glossy and graceful, they indeed appear
beautiful outwardly, but inside they are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness. Any person who
performs a sign or a wonder, but does not turn people from their sins, is probably an apostate. Moses
said, “You shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the LORD your
God is testing you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your
soul.” (Deuteronomy 13:3) Moses was describing those who give people a sign or a wonder, but then
say, “Let us go and serve other gods.” (Deuteronomy 13:1-2) These are those who preach another
Jesus. The greatest good Jesus came to do was to turn people from their sins to God.
Torment
Because Christianity has drifted from the crucifying teachings of Jesus Christ, it is almost a tragedy for
one to be born again in the churches today. These babes experience this grace because of the Spirit
and Word of God not because of any man’s anointing, “For the Gospel is the power of God unto
salvation to every one that believes,” (Romans 1:16) and again, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord,
Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will
say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your
name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you;
depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” (Matthew 7:21-23) Beware of evangelists and
pastors who perform many wonders but are living without law (lawless), for they make their followers
twice as much a son of hell as themselves. (Matthew 23:15) Feeling what these newborns feel from
hearing the word and seeing the signs, while seeing preachers and their congregations in their carnality
with seemingly clear consciences, gives the newborn boldness to behave likewise without the suffering
of conviction. For the Scripture says, “Samaria did not commit half of your sins; but you have
multiplied your abominations more than they, and have justified your sisters by all the abominations
which you have done.” (Ezekiel 16:51) Samaria saw Jerusalem in their sins and in seeing was justified
in their own. Jerusalem was the light of all nations but they became exceedingly more wicked than the
pagan world around them! If Christians lose their shine how shall the nations praise our Father who is
in Heaven? Our shine is all the attributes of Christ!
Many preachers have masked their doctrine with, “Therefore now there is no condemnation for those
who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1) They along with many modern translations have omitted the
rest of the verse, “Who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit.” But the omission describes the
character of those who are in Christ Jesus so as to be truly freed from condemnation. They walk not
after the flesh! Those who teach lawlessness, as well as their followers want salvation while rejecting
the teachings of the Savior.
It is the way of apostates to base their judgments on sentiments rather than the Bible. Like most of the
sheep they quickly learn to trust in their feelings, rather than having their consciences guided by
scripture. Then when the Bible challenges their experiences or the traditional teachings they have
followed, they view the scripture either as a contradiction or misunderstanding. Thus they have been
successfully inoculated.
Why are the judgments of God despised by the multitudes in churches today? The reason has not
changed. Everyone who loves God feels the same way about His judgments as the psalmist, “The
judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, Yea,
than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is
warned, and in keeping them there is great reward.” (Psalm 19:9-11) But for those who despise His
nature, “Everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be
exposed.” (John 3:20) In essence, if Jesus came to expose their sins they would crucify Him all over
again.
I believe that pride is like a mountain chain; having at its peaks various manifestations and existing at
one of its pinnacle’s is exalting secular and worldly education above the knowledge of God. Many
believers today hold far more esteem for this education because of the benefit package that comes with
it. For its wages are possibly going to afford them happiness and a quality of life which they would not
live without. However if wisdom were to write a parable about life, perhaps the crux of the parable
would be the birth and death of all people, “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we
can carry nothing out.” (1 Timothy 6:7) The education I am mentioning here is the public school
systems, and even worse, the hypocritical apostate so called “Christian Schools.” The latter is worse
because it manufactures reprobates who would have been better off never having known the way of
righteousness.
From the beginning God prophesied, and until Christ there was a progressive revelation of that
prophecy. But many watched it come to pass on the cross. In those days the families esteemed a little
knowledge of God of far more value than all the knowledge of this world combined, for it is written,
“You have exalted Your Word above all Your name.” (Psalm 138:2)
Speaking of Satan, Jesus said, “The ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.” (John 14:
30) The systems of these worlds are antichrist! They call evil good and good evil, mistaking darkness
for light and light for darkness, (Isaiah 5:20) and Paul warned Timothy, “This know also, that in the
last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be…fierce.” (2 Timothy 3:1-3) The word fierce
comes from the Greek word anemeros meaning savage. Is there anything more savage than abortion?
The womb was designed to be a place of quietness and nourishment where the strongest affections for
life develop. Why is it then that babies are burned alive with saline while in the womb of the mother?
Or coming into this world, legs first, only for its neck to be greeted not with gentle kisses but a cold
syringe used to suck out its brains? The usual purpose of abortion is the same purpose for birth control
and condoms. People love sexual immorality but hate the consequences. Where pills and condemns
fail, they still have another option—murder. Even professing Christians have approved abortions!
Their minds are poisoned and damned, unless they repent. “If men fight, and hurt a woman with child,
so that she gives birth prematurely, yet no harm follows, he shall surely be punished accordingly as the
woman’s husband imposes on him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. But if any harm follows,
then you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn,
wound for wound, stripe for stripe.” (Exodus 21:22-25) This is a lamentation I wrote years ago:
America, America, a land I have loved and prospered. You were so surprised when you heard about
tribes throughout the earth who sacrifice children as worship to idols. Yet, today you remain
unashamed after having put to death millions of babies as a sacrifice to worship yourselves, the greatest
idol of all!
Being filled with the Spirit we love the things of the Spirit. “For you were once darkness, but now you
are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness,
righteousness, and truth).” (Ephesians 5:8-9) Suddenly where, Hollywood movies, theatres, and
blockbusters once served as entertainment they now have become a source of oppression. Your
righteous soul is vexed from exposure to vulgar images on DVD covers and framed pictures on theatre
walls. Remember Lot, “Who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous
man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their
lawless deeds).” (2 Peter 2:7-8) But we are commanded to, “Have no fellowship with the unfruitful
works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are
done by them in secret.” (Ephesians 5:11-12) The word fellowship literally means participation with.
The wickedness of ungodly churchgoers and sinners are exposed as we, “Come out from among them
and be separate.” (2 Corinthians 6:17) But what happens to a newborn who meets a person at their
church, who is in many ways holy, but surprisingly has no problem with watching movies which say
the Lord’s name in vain, has nude scenes, violence, and profanity? The offense begins to weaken.
However, it was the Holy Spirit within who was offended, and now where the newborn was sensitive,
he is growing dull from having had too much fellowship with ungodly believers. The newborn then
begins to only feel what they feel and see what they see. This is one way reprobates are
manufactured. Also these same movie stars would be going to hell, and yet the churchgoers are
entertained by watching their movies and shows!
Subtle doses of exposure to the culture of this world, stealthily and consistently presses upon us
compromises, persisting that we make minor exceptions to the rule of holiness, by craftily working in
us more and more tolerance to the very evils and exposure for which Jesus bled and died. Perhaps this
is most successfully accomplished through secular and modern Christian television. Images and words
become less and less offensive until at length, we no longer feel offended by the “little things.”
However a little thought will show there are no small sins in the eyes of God. Also any secular
involvement other than evangelism exposes us and “little ones” more and more, so as to gradually slide
into a modern day Samaria. Whereas we may watch a program and coming upon an inappropriate
scene say, “That really didn’t need to be in there,” or, “Why did they have to ruin such a good movie,”
others from the early church would have torn their clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes.
The Narrow Road
I stated earlier that the righteous are born between two worlds, the world of the ungodly and that of the
sinner. The ungodly are those who do not obey the laws of Christ, while calling Him Lord. We were
born between them and must stay between them, turning into their fellowships only to snatch some out
of the flames, as it is written, “On some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with
fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.” (Jude 22-23)
Now the righteous who survive the thresholds of ungodly church organizations today must come out
from among them and walk the narrow road. “For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to
destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way
which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)
Why did Jesus call the path that leads to life narrow? Because, like many paths alongside the city
streets, few have traveled that path and many have walked it alone. It is a path least traveled. I can
imagine the path gets even narrower towards the end, as many weary warriors have fallen asleep. But
the path which leads to destruction is broad because so many are traveling there at the same time.
Jesus explained the Parable of the Sower saying, “The seed is the word of God. Those by the wayside
are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they
should believe and be saved. But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the
word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.
Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with
cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. But the ones that fell on the good
ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with
patience.” (Luke 8:11-15) The first group decides to proceed toward the path, but perhaps using
friends, family, and especially churchgoers Satan discourages them, and talks them out of the journey.
Now the others have understood and left both worlds, but along the way have turned from the path
because of fears, persecutions, vanity, and have lost touch with reality by neglecting their conscience
concerning the resurrection and eternal judgment.
The message I am sharing is an old message. There is nothing new under the sun. The Path was there
long ago. The Path has always been there. All I am doing is pointing others to the Path. “Stand in the
ways [crossroads, forks] and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then
you will find rest for your souls.” (Jeremiah 6:16) Many arrogant and boastful deceivers revile this
path and all who follow it. They do that which is right in their own eyes, fulfilling the proverb, “There
is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” (Proverbs 14:12)
But the Bible’s only hope for heaven is walking the Highway of Holiness, as it is written, “A highway
shall be there, and a road, and it shall be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass
over it, but it shall be for others. Whoever walks the road, although a fool, shall not go astray.” (Isaiah
35:8) The Path and Way of God is of old. All of the godly have journeyed thereon. There is no other
way to God but His Way. The Way the Lord has chosen. The life and teachings of Jesus and His
apostles are sure to lead us to this very end. Also we have the blessed Comforter to help us along this
difficult Journey.
Jesus was asked, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” And He said to them, “Strive to enter through
the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the Master
of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door,
saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you
are from,’ then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our
streets.’ But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you
workers of iniquity.’ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac
and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out.” (Luke 13:23-28)
Remember, if you come out from among both worlds what Jesus said, “If the world hates you, you
know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet
because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”
(John 15:18-19) You have become an offense to the self righteous and to those with vain confidence.
They will accuse you falsely; seek diligently to find fault, and mock saying, “How are you any better
than the rest of us?” It is not that we are better, but that the wages of Christ are far better than the
broadstream church, for conformity to these worlds brings forth death, but the way of Christ is life
eternal. Those who consecrate themselves completely to God are a constant reminder of how shallow,
carnal, and selfish others around them are.
Another way newborns are misled is by charitable servants in the church who also work iniquity. But
what do you think God desires more from us: help or holiness? All to Jesus I surrender, but what does
that mean? The majority are traveling down the broad way, comfortably serving the poor, orphans,
and widows, but they neglect keeping themselves unspotted from the world, forgetting that, “Pure and
undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to
keep oneself unspotted from the world.” (James 1:27) They haven’t crucified the flesh with its
passions. The good they think they are doing for God is really teaching others the way of adultery.
Many of these from the broad way, while doing their good deeds, do not even do it in the name of
Jesus; and when the people receive their service, they say thank you, then these piously deny their
gratitude with words like, “Oh it was nothing.” Still others from the broad way, who do good deeds,
talk so much about Jesus, but they themselves are idolaters, adulterers, liars, and hypocrites. They
lead others into thinking that they can be sinners, make it into heaven, and be blessed by Him through
their good works; but the blessing they feel and come to know is the result from a law at work in the
lives of any person who gives. For Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)
The Darkness Has Blinded Their Eyes
A person may travel only as far as the light displays the steps beneath his feet, before he stumbles and
falls into utter ruin, for he is not able to see except the light so shows him wheresoever’s he walks.
God wouldn’t withhold light from the humble, He only denies the proud. Today we have the ability
through resistance to dim or brighten lamps. Adding resistance to the lit lamp will darken the room
around us. Likewise, resisting the counsel and authority of scripture could stealthily bring us into a
place of lethargy so that when the light comes on before that great white throne, we are fleeing from
before the face of Him, whom both the heaven and earth fled away. Bats, salamanders, and crabs
have been in the darkness of caves so long that they have eyes but cannot see, for the darkness has
blinded their eyes! But the word of God is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. A person
who ignores scripture travels further and further away from the path, getting deeper and deeper into
darkness. Their eyes steadily adjust to the darkness around them. In time the darkness has blinded
their eyes. (1 John 2:10) This is how the word of God becomes less and less of a reality, through our
resistance to the Holy Spirit and word of God. Therefore, “If you will hear His voice, do not harden
your hearts.” (Hebrews 3:15)
Confusion
Many newborns are immediately tried by the lawlessness in the churches. As they grow in the word
they often grow in confusion. The word explains what happened to them at their new birth. They
learn more about Christ and what pleases Him through teaching and searching the scriptures. Having
become partakers of the Divine nature, every form of ungodliness is now offensive to them. The
confusion really begins to settle in their minds when other members of their church are not offended by
evil but rather take pleasure in unrighteousness. These members show no signs of compunction, they
enjoy things that the Bible clearly says the Lord hates, and they justify themselves using scripture and
reason.
The newborn has recently tasted the grace of God and is now passionately in love with Jesus hating the
cause of Christ’s sufferings and now desires to suffer with Him. But others in the church do not
understand what has happened; they have forgotten that they too have been purged from their sins by
the blood of Christ. If the babe survives the discouragement of all the blindness and apathy of those
around him, he will run with all his might searching for the narrow road, the path of pilgrims. When he
sees the Path, discouragement hits him even harder when he finds the Way deserted. He starts to
question if he is lost. Beginning to despair the Lord reminds him that there are few who find it.
(Matthew 7:14) He remembers all of the faces whom he thought at one point to be sincere ministers of
the Gospel, and others who were so warm, kind, and compassionate, but they are nowhere to be found
on this road; he finds it hard to believe that God would damn their souls to hell forever because they
wouldn’t let go of a few sins, but then comes to mind, ‘It is not the work we do for God, but the work
He does in us, that matters most,’ for many will come to Him in that day hollering Lord! And He will
reply, “I do not know you, where you are from,” though they did many wonders in His name.
(Matthew 7:21-23)
Words which bear the weight of reality, when they begin weighing upon one soul, are far heavier than
if they weighed upon the consciences of the masses. Herein lays the struggle for faith. For a majority
in error is like a dark fog in which if one person shines the light of truth, it seems to work against him
because its reflection off the fog. Though the reason of the majority may be supported by one another,
if their reason is not supported by scripture, the majority is lost all together. These are restless
junctures of loneliness, sorrow, and confusion which often tempt these lovers of truth to withdraw
from their convictions and Bible’s teachings into regression, when these, are contrary to popular
opinion. Think about John Wycliffe and William Tyndale who translated the Bible into English. This
was considered heresy according to the ecclesial authorities, from the fourteenth to seventeenth
centuries. Wycliffe was therefore exiled and Tyndale burned at the stake!
Our only hope is the truth. We may only, sanely, expect God to do what He has promised. To
persevere in another path will not lead us to kiss with God’s mercy, but His wrath. For all of the paths
of the LORD are mercy and truth. (Psalm 25:10) Truth may often make you feel alone, for as you
travel its path you do not find many walking it. The pilgrim ponders in his mind, “Oft times I feel like I
myself am lost, because I feel so alone. So many say they’re going to meet me in heaven, but the road
they’re on is leading them somewhere else. I see them happy, affluent, light, confident, and there are
so many others like them. They have such a bright outlook on this world, they’re not burdened with
what burdens me, they don’t understand my sorrow or fears, and the path I’m on is so empty. Am I
right or wrong? Am I lost? They do not share in my anger. But whose anger is this? Why am I angry
and they’re not? Why do I feel so badly so often for defending righteousness, if it was Truth who
opened my blinded eyes?”
However this confusion loses its grip on your conscience when you see a real church, set apart from
this world, and the resulting fruit. It is almost as if God, knowing moments before your tailspin would
come to an end, shows you a clear picture of which way is right, so that you were inches away from
crashing headlong into ruin. God is not the Author of confusion but of peace, as well as the Author
and finisher of our faith. Oh how quickly we are blinded and cower away from reality because of
religious superstitions, being taught as oracles of God! Wolves in sheep’s clothing working through our
fears and ignorance to serve their pride! Motivational speakers, cunning craftsmen, who have a
bachelor in clandestine arts, studying world and church history learning how to exercise sorcery over
innocent people oppressing the poor and exalting the proud!
Christians are refreshed by the holy conduct of believers and their affections grow towards every soul
who obeys the Gospel, “His spirit has been refreshed by you all… And his affections are greater for
you as he remembers your obedience,” (2 Corinthians 7:13-15) also, “They will comfort you, when
you see their ways and their doings.” (Ezekiel 14:23)
Having been refreshed by the saints, the pilgrim now says in his heart, “Confusion, rejection, and
loneliness now comfort me because it is for truth that I suffer these feelings. I see myself on the Lord’s
Highway, but I had to leave so many behind to follow this Path.” And as the apostle Paul he declares,
“What things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things
loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of
all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own
righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which
is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of
His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from
the dead.” (Philippians 3:7-11)
Rejoicing the pilgrim begins to share with others along the way, “When Christ opened my eyes I saw
that I was standing in hell’s fire, so with all my might I ran to Him and there was nothing for me to go
back to! I am a pilgrim that was born between two worlds, with my feet having been fixed on a
Highway called Holiness. I have and am sojourning my way through the wilderness of confusion, the
valleys of loneliness, and the roads of rejection. But all of the torments in this life are not even worthy
when compared to separation from Christ for eternity; and all of the pleasures of this world combined
cannot be equaled to the riches in Christ Jesus.”
The ungodly and the sinner have made this world their home, but the righteous are on the Highway of
Holiness, fixed on the Good Path, walking the Narrow Way, sojourning through this world, advancing
to their Heavenly Country.
By the fear of the Lord these have departed from the errors and ways of both worlds. But to those
who do not fear, “In accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up
for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who “will
render to each one according to his deeds”: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing
good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the
truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath.” (Romans 2:5-8)