The Narrow

For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.-Psalm 16:10-11
In this passage in Psalm 16 King David is prophetically speaking about the ministry of Jesus Christ. The word here Holy One is personal and it is capitalized. The word of God clearly expresses that after Jesus Christ died on the cross he descended into the lower parts of the earth. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)-Ephesians 4:7-9 Jesus himself would also paint this picture of him being in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale in Matthew 12:39-40. Many today don’t believe in a literal hell even though Jesus Christ himself spoke of hell quite often. The Bible spoke of hell quite often and has given us much insight into hell. It speaks about hell being a place of torment, weeping, wailing, and gnashing of the teeth. A place of darkness reserved for satan and his angels and now being enlarged for all those who choose to not enter the Kingdom of God. Luke 16 Jesus tells us of a rich man and a beggar named Lazarus and Jesus describes the beggar being protected in Abraham’s bosom while the rich man was immediately in hell upon death. The rich man expressed his great torment and how he would love to tell others not to follow his path to hell. Jesus denied him access back to warn others because the world has already had plenty of warning about hell. Lazarus was nestled safely in Abraham’s bosom until Jesus himself took away the sins of the world and descended into the lower parts of the earth to set his followers who died before his crucifixion free from captivity.
Which leads us to a very important question what is the path of life? Jesus was resurrected his soul was not left in hell neither where the souls of any believers in God left in hell. God protected his faithful from wrath and torment. God would not allow his Holy One nor us to see corruption. God promised to show us the path of life and it is good to know in the presence of the most high God is fullness of joy. We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. .-2 Corinthians 5:8-9 A much known statistic is that 1 out of every 1 person will die. Everybody must die, but do we have confidence and faith enough to seek Jesus Christ. Absent from this earthly body and present with God. The bible clearly teaches that every person saved or unsaved will appear before God the question is will you appear in belief or disbelief? Will you be amongst those who are excited about being in the presence of the Lord or will you be amongst those who are weeping because they did not believe and now they will receive the reward in which they sowed into. What scares me about hell is not that it is hot or that it is tormenting. What scares me is that it is eternal death. The word death has the same meaning as separation. We can die to friendships, relationships, or habits. When we die on earth we are simply separated from everything and everyone here. The eternal death is separation from God. How painful must that feel to be eternally separated from God, that is worst than any fire or pain we can feel. People believe that God sends people to hell when in reality we send ourself. God has sent many people with his word, even his son to die for our sins. He gave us instructions to believe on his son and to follow him. God is gracious enough to give us our desires. The believer in Christ lives on earth desiring to be with Jesus and God rewards the believer accordingly. The non believer willingly chooses to live seeking not to dwell in the presence of Christ but to do their own thing and their reward is accordingly. Is God wrong for that? No, God is absolutely just. Why should he give you what you didn’t want? Our lifestyles express what we want in eternal life. If I want Jesus God will give me Jesus eternally, but if I don’t want Christ God will not give him to me.
In conclusion, Matthew 7:13-14 gives us a word of truth “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” The world offers us many alternatives to happiness. The world is leading a campaign that says do what you want to do and they call that just law. If you live by that rule then not only will you make your life a living hell but you guarantee yourself separation from God in eternity. As a child my mother would tell me if I got good grades in school she would reward me accordingly. If I choose to reject studying, discipline in scholastics, keeping my behavior appropriate and most important focused on my goal then what reward waits for me. Could I blame my mother if she rewarded me nothing in the end. Certainly not because my lifestyle reflects exactly what I wanted. I challenge you today to seek the path of life. The scripture in Psalm 16 says at his right hand there are pleasures for evermore. “And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:”-Matthew 25:33-34
The path to life is a narrow path seek to be a sheep led by your shepherd who is none other than Jesus Christ. There is great reward in following Christ because God will give you exactly what you asked for. What is the fate of those that dwell on the left hand of God? “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:”-Matthew 25:41 As a believer in Christ I write, pray, teach, and preach but most important I cry for those on the left hand of God. I cry because my heart is very compassionate and I know that there is still time for those on the left hand to come to the right hand. However once you breathe your last breath there is no change of heart. I encourage all to spread the word of God because who really wants to see people end up on the left hand side of God. The path to God is a narrow path don’t follow the way of the world.
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.-John 14:6