The Path

I must have been about thirteen. It was a late fall morning and the day was cool and crisp. I decided to grab my 22 rifle and go for a walk in the woods to see if I would run across any squirrels that might be out and about. I had a very old great aunt that my grandmother looked after. She loved squirrel meat and if I killed one or two I usually brought them to my grandmother to cook them for her. I walked a familiar path in the woods behind my parents house that I had walked many times before. The warm sun on my back made me relaxed and a little sleepy. I think as I was walking, I must have started daydreaming and sort of lost track of where I was going. Suddenly, I realized I was in a small clearing. One that I didn’t recognize. I looked around and didn’t see any landmark that was familiar to me. I was disoriented. For a moment I felt panic rising up in me. The feeling of being alone and not knowing where you are or how to get back Is not a pleasant one. Oh, how I wished that someone would yell out to me and guide me back to the path. But, I was alone. I turned around and tried to retrace my route back to familiar territory and eventually I came out to the main road. I learned that day that I should pay more attention to where I am going. I’m telling you this story to illustrate how easy it is to go down the wrong path and get yourself lost. 

Yesuha said something about being on the wrong path that should be very troubling to today’s christians. In Matthew 7:13-14 he says.

“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. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. You might think that the “narrow way” is referring to christianity but there is one major problem with that thinking. Yeshua said that it was “few” that followed that way. Christianity is the largest religion in the world. Christians are the majority.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           It would qualify as the broad way, not the narrow. Could it be that the christianity of today isn’t the narrow way? Is it possible that those that follow today’s version of christianity are on the broad road to destruction? Yeshua indicates that it is indeed very possible, a few verses later in Matthew 7:21-23 he says.

“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!

My my, There is that word again “lawlessness”. It is the Greek word anomia. From the NAS new testament Greek lexicon it means. 

the condition of without law.

• because ignorant of it
• because of violating it

contempt and violation of law, iniquity, wickedness.

What law could Yeshua be referring to? Matthew 19:16-21 gives us the answer.

And behold, one came to him and said, Teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why askest thou me concerning that which is good? One there is who is good: but if thou wouldest enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? And Jesus said, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honor thy father and mother; and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I observed: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wouldest be perfect, go, sell that which thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

The law that YHVH gave to Moses is our answer. Right now you might be thinking “that’s not the whole law of Moses it’s just a few commandments”. Yeshua also addressed that and clarified it perfectly in Matthew 5:18-19 he said.

“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

The way I read it since everything the Bible prophesies hasn’t been fulfilled, the Law that YHVH gave Moses is still in effect, everything hasn’t been fulfilled. In the book of Revelation (which offers us  a vision of the future) it says.

 Revelation 12:17 So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

Revelation 14:9 Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” 12 Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

I have a genuine concern for the people that are following a lawless church; just as I would have concern for the people following a church that doesn’t have faith in Yeshua. Remember, those people that prophesied, cast out demons and did many wonders were pretty certain they were on the right path. I am afraid that one day they will look up and not recognize where they are. The broad and easy path that the vast majority of christianity is following will not have lead them to the place that they wanted to be. They will feel the panic of being lost. I am yelling out to you to lead you back to the path. Please, come this way and save yourself. keep the commandments of YHVH and your faith in Yeshua for they are the narrow way that leads to eternal life.

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.