Quote from Forum Archives on October 14, 2011, 10:28 am

Posted by: edwrather <edwrather@...>

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The Burning Bush Devotional
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10.14.11

No Shortcuts

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.

Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In
My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told
you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for
you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you
may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know. Thomas said to
Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the
way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one
comes to the Father except through Me." - John 14:1-6.

Rob Sloan was thought to have been the third place runner in the Kielder
Marathon, in northern England. However, he has been stripped of his medal
due to disqualification. During the run, he took a shortcut via a spectator
bus. As event Director Steve Cram describes, "He's the only runner in the
whole of the race who ran the second half of the race quicker than the first
half." You can do that if you ride a bus! It makes the whole marathon thingy
much more pleasant! (Reuters 10.13.11)

Rob must have thought that he would actually be able to deceive everyone
about his marathon performance. He found out though that his great plan for
an easy run had a few flaws in it. His plan was not allowed by the event
officials. That's why it's called a marathon. You run every step, in every
mile, without any shortcuts via buses. Rob tried to bluff his way through,
denying what he had done, until he was finally forced to admit his attempted
deception.

Many apparently believe that there is a shortcut to Heaven, to the "Father's
house". No need to include Jesus in this plan, just take the turn onto the
broad way, through the wide gate, and it will all turn out fine. Because,
everyone knows, that everyone is going to Heaven; some are just taking a
different road. At least that's what I seem to be hearing more and more in
recent days. The Biblical spiritual fact is that Jesus is the only "way"
provided by which we may travel to Heaven (i.e. "the Father"), or as King
David says, the "house of the LORD (Psalm 23:6)."

Attempts to travel to Heaven by any other means than through Jesus will
fail. The event coordinator of this Heavenly event is God Himself. God has
given one prerequisite for dwelling in the "house of the LORD forever". That
most important prerequisite is Jesus. We are told this in Romans 10:9-13,
".if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart
that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart
one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto
salvation. For the Scripture says, 'Whoever believes on Him will not be put
to shame.' For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same
Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For 'whoever calls on the
name of the LORD shall be saved.'" In John 1:12, we are told, "But as many
as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to
those who believe in His name."

Have you taken a ride on a bus down the broad road of destruction, or are
you on that narrow road through Jesus that leads to life eternal?

Copyright © 2011. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the devotionals
on a non-profit basis with source credited. The Burning Bush website has
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