Seeds For Thinking

Scripture: Jesus said, “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Mathew 7:14, KJV

Which way to go? Which way to go?
We get all kinds of advice - Go THIS way! No that way is best. We are admonished to be either hot or cold. Taking the ‘middle of the road’ is bad, of course, or straddling the fence. We are to come all the way out, or stay all the way in. We encounter those who clamber for the world to choose THEIR WAY - whether high road or low, far left or right.
What would Jesus do? He advised to come, follow Him, and let the dead bury the dead. Lk. 9:60
In fact, some of the disciples complained that Jesus’ teaching were “hard” (John 6:60), saying, “Who can accept it.”
Is there a right path, straight, and aimed for the narrow gate, that does not veer to extremes? I will throw out some comments for you to think about.
Back in my youthful and more agile days I learned to walk the top of the board fence along our driveway. I even attempted to walk a tightrope (cable) with some success. It takes balance, concentration, and confidence gained from ‘walking the walk.’ If you go off to the right, left, or down you are no longer ‘walking the ‘line.’
Just ordinary walking is not easy at first. Consider young children at that stage rightly called “toddlers,” as they master the technique of walking. Again, in the fullness of years, many people have problems maintaining their balance. Assuming there is strength enough in their legs, they rely on a cane or walker. Balance, maintaining an equilibrium, is important if we wish to stand and walk, and especially if we wish to go in a particular direction.
There is another kind of balance, more of mind and spirit than physical. This is in regard to our attitudes, our psyche, or relationship to the world about us. Conscience. Judgment. Responsibility. Belonging. Fitting in. Accepting others. As Jesus put it, “Loving your neighbor as yourself.” Doing things in moderation.
If you seek to hit a target, in whatever sport, you’ve got to aim directly for it; basket, goal posts, golf cup, bowling pins, archery - whatever.
We need to truly evaluate the claims some ‘blind’ leaders and cults advocate. We should not follow blindly every voice that chants, “Go this way - the ‘target’ is over there.“ Fix your eyes on Jesus, find that narrow path, and the strait gate, and go right down the middle toward it.