June
1, 2003
THE
NARROW GATE, Part I
"Strive
to enter through the narrow gate" (Luke 13:24, NKJV).
"The
belated traveler, hurrying to reach the city gate by the going
down of the sun, could not turn aside for any attractions
by the way. His whole mind was bent on the one purpose of
entering the gate. The same intensity of purpose, said Jesus,
is required in the Christian life. I have opened to you the
glory of character, which is the true glory of My kingdom.
It offers you no promise of earthly dominion; yet it is worthy
of your supreme desire and effort. I do not call you to battle
for the supremacy of the world's great empire, but do not
therefore conclude that there is no battle to be fought nor
victories to be won. I bid you strive, agonize, to enter into
My spiritual kingdom...
"He
who determines to enter the spiritual kingdom will find that
all the powers and passions of an unregenerate nature, backed
by the forces of the kingdom of darkness, are arrayed against
him. Selfishness and pride will make a stand against anything
that would show them to be sinful. We cannot, of ourselves,
conquer the evil desires and habits that strive for the mastery.
We cannot overcome the mighty foe who holds us in his thrall.
God alone can give us the victory. He desires us to have the
mastery over ourselves, our own will and ways. But He cannot
work in us without our consent and cooperation. The divine
Spirit works through the faculties and powers given to man.
Our energies are required to cooperate with God.
"The
victory is not won without much earnest prayer, without the
humbling of self at every step. Our will is not to be forced
into cooperation with divine agencies, but it must be voluntarily
submitted. Were it possible to force upon you with a hundredfold
greater intensity the influence of the spirit of God, it would
not make you a Christian, a fit subject for heaven. The stronghold
of Satan would not be broken. The will must be placed on the
side of God's will. You are not able, of yourself, to bring
your purposes and desires and inclinations into submission
to the will of God; but if you are 'willing to be made willing,'
God will accomplish the work for you, even 'casting down arguments
and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge
of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience
of Christ' (2 Corinthians 10:5). Then you will 'work out your
own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who works
in you both to will and to do His good pleasure' (Philippians
2:12, 13).--Thoughts From The Mount Of Blessing, pp.,
141-143.
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