THE HIGH WAY OF
GRACE
By Pastor
Dick
The Bible says, "The just
shall live by faith" (Heb.10:38). We have a choice to navigate our lives by
complicated manmade directions or by the easy-to-read compass of God, which
says: "I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.
When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not
stumble. Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your
life" (Prov.4:11-13).
The way shown by the wisdom
of God is a High Way of Grace. Life on this High Way is so easy it seems too
good to be true. It is just being who we are, living in the flow of God, free
from guilt, free from fear, and free from trying to earn anything from God.
Living on this pathway is effortless. There is no struggle once we are on the
High Way, because it is a place of rest, but we need to make the effort to get
on. The Bible says, "Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest"
(Heb.4:11). Let us labor by putting our faith to work
Paul the apostle did not
have a lackadaisical mentality when it came to living the new life Christ had
given him. He said, "I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not
as one that beateth the air" (1 Cor.9:26). The Christian life here on earth
is referred to in the Bible as running in a race (Heb.12:1). How serious are you
about running this race? Are you willing to stop trying to draw up your own road
map and live according to the wonderful plans your Heavenly Father has made for
you?
The starting position on
this glorious roadway is of utmost importance. When you accept our Lord's high
calling to run on this pathway, be absolutely certain you begin in the right
place; and always remember where you began, lest you stumble and fall off onto a
low road made by man. When you enter the High Way, THE PROPER PLACE TO BEGIN TO
RUN THIS RACE (live the Christian life) IS AT THE FINISH LINE!
God—not man—is the One who
set the finish line of this race, and Jesus is the only One who could reach it.
We do not have to strive and struggle to get to a place where He has already
placed us! We do not run to win, for we are already winners. Jesus has won the
race and given His victory to us—He has made us winners! "We are more than
conquerors through Him that loved us" (Rom.8:37).
Since we are already winners
on the Road of Life, we can relax and really enjoy running in the flow of God's
grace. On that High Way, the Holy Spirit will guide us in the love of God as He
reveals to us more and more of the insurmountable benefits Christ won on the
cross for us when He said, "IT IS FINISHED," and bowed His head and gave
up His life!
This High Way is off-limits
to the old man! Old human nature, take notice! This way of life is strictly for
the new man, ". . . which after God is created in righteousness and true
holiness" (Eph.4:24). The new man runs effortlessly; he does not need to
improve a thing, for he was created in the righteousness and holiness of God.
The scenery from the High Way is much different from what is seen on the low
road of man. Up there, you will see things from God's viewpoint. One of the most
heartwarming sights will be His view of you through the sacrifice of
Christ.
Running on the High Way is a
lot different than competing in a manmade race, for no records are kept on how
you perform. Pressure to perform is nonexistent; in fact, this road is
off-limits to the performer! Pressure
to become a better performer has been relentlessly applied to us almost since
the day we were born;
the need to perform is
ingrained in our human nature. That zeal we have to want to get a new born
Christian performance-oriented is ungodly, to say the least! It takes a long
time for some of us to come to the realization that we cannot perform to please
God. Paul the apostle had to come to the humble position of knowing the
impossibility of doing that which is good. He said, ". . . for to will is
present with me; but how to perform that which is good I FIND NOT"
(Rom.7:18).
One thing you will never
find on the High Way is CONDEMNATION. We who belong to Jesus have a choice: we
do not have to walk after the flesh, but can walk after the Spirit and be free
from all condemnation (Rom.8:1). Condemnation never comes from God to us who
have become His children by receiving Christ (John 1:12). Severe discipline when
we need it . . . yes . . . because He loves us . . . but never any condemnation
. . . never . . . ever . . . not one ounce! What Christ took off from us on the
cross is gone forever. Condemnation can come from the devil, or from people, or
from our own flesh, but never . . . NEVER . . . EVER . . . from
God!
Jesus said, "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 straight is the
gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find
it" (Mat.7:13, 14). The natural mind interpretation of those two scripture
verses would be that multitudes are going to hell and few to Heaven, but that is
simply not true. To say that only a few will be saved is a contradiction to the
word of God, which states that the seed of Abraham are as the stars in the
sky—too numerous to count (Gen.15:5). The Apostle John had a vision of the
redeemed that certainly reveals more than a few: "After this I beheld, and,
lo, a great multitude, WHICH NO MAN COULD NUMBER, of all nations, and kindreds,
and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed
with white robes, and palms in their hands" (Rev.7:9).
Yes, the way to salvation is
narrow and straight through the cross; and because of the greatness of God's
grace, more than can be numbered will be saved! But the straight gate and narrow
way that few will find is THE HIGH WAY OF GRACE! Many will be saved by the grace
of God; few will be willing to live in His grace.
There is a low, wide,
well-used road in the works of man traveled on by many, and a High Way in the
grace of God that few will find, because they have chosen to go along with the
crowd. Multitudes of Christians are hard at work trying to earn their way into
God's favor, and few Christians are resting in His finished work. Oh, so many
running on the low road, which leads to destruction, and so few on the High Way
that leads to life! Jesus loves us just as much when we are on the low road as
He does when we are on the high road, because His love is unconditional; but
when we are in that low place, we are not aware of His love or His presence.
Getting on the High Way is not just taking one step and we have arrived. We tend
to be on and off—mostly off—but as we grow in the grace and knowledge of the
Lord, we stay on it longer.
Life on the High Way of
Grace has so many benefits, one being the nonexistence of death. The Bible says,
"In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no
death" (Prov.12:28). Even when our body dies, there will be no death for us
who belong to Jesus; it will just be a change for something better.
The greatest blessing of
running on the High Way is getting to know Jesus. Oh yes, we who belong to the
Lord know Him . . . but not well enough! Paul the apostle considered the loss of
all things as nothing compared to knowing Him (Phil.3:10). And we can get a much
better view of Him when we are on the High Way of
Grace!
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