Quote from Forum Archives on August 27, 2008, 3:11 pm

Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>

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The Burning Bush Devotional
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08.28.08

The Scenic Route

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. - Matthew 7:13-14.

Have you ever taken the scenic route? Actually, it was going to be a short
cut. We could cut through on this road to the south of Cripple Creek,
Colorado and then over to Colorado Springs. It looked like only about 20
miles from the turn off to Cripple Creek. Probably only take us 30 minutes.

When we turned off on the scenic route we immediately noticed that it was
not paved, but then it wasn't that bad of a road. There was quite a bit of
traffic too. But within a couple of miles the highway had narrowed, and it
was much rougher.

I was beginning to wish that I had a four wheel drive (Knocked a muffler and
tailpipe loose and finally lost it before arriving home.). It began to rain,
and I began to pray that we wouldn't slide off into one of the canyons. Four
hours later we arrived in Cripple Creek, a little older and wiser. I
recently talked to some people in our church who took this same scenic route
on their last vacation. They too were wishing they could turn around and
thought they might lose a muffler.

Before you take that beautiful scenic short cut, you just might want to
check it out a little. Because you may not be able to turn around and go
back the other way once you have entered in.

There are two gates with one leading to life and the other to death. There
are two trees representing our lives. By inspecting the fruit from the tree
of our life it is possible to determine whether we are on the path of life
or the path of death. Jesus says in Matthew 7:16-20, "You will know them by
their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A
good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every
tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Therefore by their fruits you will know them." What kind of fruit is the
tree of your life growing? Grapes and figs or thorns and thistles?

To be on the path of life growing the right fruit we need the right
foundation. Jesus says, "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and
does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:
and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that
house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who
hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish
man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods
came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was
its fall (Matthew 7:24-27)."

So, if you are on the scenic route, your life is like a house built on sand,
and you know that the output of your life, the fruit, is bad - what do you
do? You cannot turn around by yourself, you need Jesus, you need the right
foundation. Put your life into the hands of Jesus, trust Him and He will get
you onto the right road, the road of life.

Copyright © 2008. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the devotionals
on a non-profit basis with source credited. The Burning Bush website has
been online since January 31, 1998. On June 8, 1998 the email version of the
Burning Bush Devotional was first sent.

Prayer Requests: Please pray for the democratic nation of Georgia that has
been attacked by Russia. Please pray for Malachi and Cody who are young boys
with cancer. Many prayer needs are posted at the Burning Bush website on the
Prayer Request page. You can also post your prayer requests there and they
will be forwarded to the Burning Bush Prayer Group (Of course, I am always
in need of prayer - please pray for me. I believe that God is speaking to me
about a change in the ministry He has given to me.).

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