29 May 2022

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)

Jesus once described following Him as finding and taking a tight, thin trail that most people don’t choose or even look for. He said nearly everyone is on a broad highway leading nowhere good. He thus paints a picture of contrast: the well-worn ways of this world and the road-less-travelled of the cross. The choice of path is always ours.

When Scripture speaks of the world and our ongoing non-conformity to it, it’s referring to our human-centered society that rejects and ignores God. The world, in this sense, can be understood as all the ideas and influences around us that make temptation look good and sin seem normal. This is where we each once lived before coming to Christ, and where we can be drawn to return.

Jesus told His disciples, “You do not belong to the world.” (John 15:19) James says we must keep ourselves “from being polluted by the world.” (James 1:27) And Peter agrees: “Keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.” (1 Peter 2:11 NLT) John makes it clear: “Do not love the world or anything in the world.” (1 John 2:15) And so a reality comes into focus for us: Disciples don’t follow the crowd.

We may feel pressure to fit in with the way the world thinks, the priorities it sets, and the measures of success it uses. But only one opinion matters—ultimately God’s. And the good, wise counsel of family and friends following Jesus alongside us can count for a lot too. But all the trending, competing voices of expectation and criticism, shame and blame? They matter little or not at all. People matter for sure, but now we are untethered from their fickle acceptance or approval, free from fearing what others think of us or say about us.

The life the world has to offer is nothing compelling or even original. It’s an age-old, tiring pattern of pursuing wealth, status, and comfort and then realizing (hopefully) how elusive and unsatisfying they are. As Paul wisely advised:

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:2 NLT)

It’s the open secret of our resistance: Disciples simply don’t settle for substitutes. The life Jesus gives always eclipses anything the world promises. Why conform to counterfeits when we can be transformed by the original? We won’t shrink to fit a mold.

The allure of the world with its token riches and pleasures is persistent, vying daily for our attention and affection. But Jesus asks, “What do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” (Matthew 16:26 NLT) The answers, of course, are nothing and no. Even our basic needs shouldn't consume our thoughts, He says, “For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them.” (Luke 12:30) We choose not to chase what the world does.

So don’t ever be afraid to be a rebel for the sake of Christ, trusting God while the world worships self-reliance, serving others even while they idolize independence. Remember: Jesus is making a difference in us, and this inevitably makes us different than everyone who’s yet to say yes to Him. We can embrace that and keep choosing His way; it’s rarely the easiest or most popular, but where it leads is always best.

Carlos Whittaker makes it plain, and I couldn’t agree more…