THE NARROW ROAD IS WIDE ENOUGH

“But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:14 NIV)

God made this world so amazing. He filled it with marvelous things and interesting people. Then He placed us here—His precious children—surrounded by the beauty and the people—and the evil.

Paul reminded us that although we live in the world, we should not be of the world:

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2 NIV)

In other words, while we’re spending our earthly lives here, we need to make sure not to let the world corrupt us. It sure is hard sometimes to stay on Jesus’ narrow road that leads to heaven, our true home.

Jesus’ narrow road reminds me of The Wizard of Oz. Dorothy was dropped into a world that was not her home. As beautiful as the flowers were and as delightfully as the colorfully-clad munchkins could sing, she longed to go home. Because there was no other place like it; home was where her heart longed to be.

And so Dorothy set out on a journey, following the yellow brick road. Her yellow brick road was long and winding. And narrow—barely wide enough for her and her three friends. The road was also surprisingly similar to John’s description in Revelation of the streets in heaven—paved as they are in gold.

As Christians, we know that heaven is our eternal home and there is no place like it. During our earthly lives, we long for the heaven that is our heart’s true home. But we struggle to stay on the narrow road that takes us there. We struggle to live a life that honors our savior.

In the end, Dorothy learned she had within her the power to take her home. We, too, have the power within us—the Holy Spirit, coupled with Jesus’ teachings and the Father’s promises. They can keep us on the narrow road that leads to our eternal home.

When I doubt if I can stay the course; when I think the world is set to corrupt me; when I have asked the Holy Spirit to keep me on the narrow road, I start singing. Praise songs usually. But sometimes, the song turns out to be this one from the Wizard of Oz.

You’re out of the woods,

You’re out of the dark,

You’re out of the night.

Step into the sun,

Step into the light

March up to the gate and bid it open, open.

Imagine that at the end of the narrow road—just like in Oz—stands a set of enormous, beautiful gates. Not green gates like in the movie. Pearly ones.

We can refuse to let the world corrupt us if we stay on the narrow road. Because as twisting and narrow as the road is, it leads to eternal life. We can’t stay on the narrow road alone. But, as Christians, we don’t have to. The narrow road is wide enough for two—if one of the two is Jesus.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we thank you for your plan and for including us in it. Jesus, we thank you for your words that direct us to the narrow road. Father, we thank you for creating a road in the first place and for calling us to walk on it with Jesus. Holy Spirit, thank you for being our guide and our friend, so that we can walk the road with reassurance that you are there, should we stumble. Help us, oh, Lord. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? Do you picture walking through life on Jesus' narrow road with him at your side?

Today's post is a reposting from WeUsed2BU.com on the theme of "The Narrow Road."

GLADS AND POPPIES

The two birth flowers for the month of August are the gladiola and the poppy. How different can two flowers be?

GLADS

The gladiolus stands tall and straight, its blossoms in a row, announcing to all the world its symbolism of strength and sincerity. The gladiola is often the frame upon which the florist creates. The backdrop for the arrangement. The strength for the display of color and beauty. 

I always thought of gladiolus as flowers that made you glad. I assumed that was the root of the word. How surprised I was to learn they were named after warriors.

The gladiolus is the flower of the gladiator; named for those fierce warriors. Its Latin root, gladius literally means sword. The flower is even sometimes called the “sword lily.”

The gladiola reminds me of Jesus. We are called to be in Jesus’ army and to fight evil around us. To do so, Ephesians 6:11-17 reminds us to put on the full armor of God. One part of that armor is the sword of the Spirit; which is the word of God. The gladiola, the “sword lily,” reflects both the power and the beauty of scripture.

Gladiators were cast into a pit of evil. So are we. But we have Jesus with us. He will fight with and for us.

POPPIES

The poppy grows in fields, spreading out as far as the eye can see. Low to the ground, waving in the breeze. Fluid, gentle, tender. The poppy is the state flower of California. Despite the flower’s exuberant growth in the wild—covering meadows and poking out of beach grass—it is illegal to pick the flower. It is precious.

My favorite image of poppies is from the movie, The Wizard of Oz. Dorothy and her friends climb a hill and look out into the valley ahead. “Poppies!” they exclaim before jogging, leaping and skipping into their midst.

Yes, the poppies were poisoned by the wicked witch, but their sight was joyful. And despite the poison, our stalwart friends didn’t gasp and choke. They simply lay down in the midst of the pleasant meadow and drifted off to sleep.

This image reminds me of Psalm 23:

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me…

I wonder. When we walk through the darkest valley, is it possible that the valley floor is covered with spiritual poppies?

Has God provided a soft meadow for us to rest in during our journey through the dark valley?

Will Jesus wake us gently, when we are renewed and ready to complete the journey?

 AN AUGUST BOUQUET

The gladiola is about strength, named for some of the fiercest warriors in history. The poppy is a gentle flower, growing wild and free. Taken together, perhaps we need both the strength of the warrior gladiola and the gentleness of the poppy in our lives. Both of which Jesus can provide.

What an unusual and beautiful bouquet they make when placed together and tied with the ribbon of faith.

Happy birthday to all you August babies.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, help us to live strong and joyful lives for you. Remind us to put on the full armor of God each day, including the Sword which is your word. Remind us to be both warriors for you but to also have a glad and sincere heart for your plan and how to treat others with gentleness. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? Which of these two flowers do you think best represents Jesus?

 See my posts on the flowers of the month for June and July.