Plenty of Room to Merge!

The problem I have with being "saved by Grace" is that it is very misleading, at least the way we use that term it is.  While salvation certainly begins there, it is not Grace itself that puts us on the "narrow road"; it's Grace that allows us to make our way to that road. It's like a (free) boarding pass, if you don't accept the pass, you aren't going very far. However, if you have the pass but don't get on the train, you ain't goin' anywhere either!

Granted, it's not about how fast you're going on the road, what you look like, what vehicle you're using, how often you pull over with a flat, all that matters is you're on the road, and moving; at least moving over the course of your lifelong journey.

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age" Titus 2:11-12 (ESV)

When I read that verse today at lunch it reminded me of just that. Grace is given for salvation, but it doesn't end there. It's used to train us to "renounce" our previous methods. It is what gives us the opportunity to renounce them; what gives us the opportunity to board that train, make a choice, and get on the road; even while others laugh at your course of action (that's why the road is narrow).

Also in that verse, the King James version uses the word lust (wordly lusts) rather than passion (wordly passions) as ESV/NIV does. Out of curiosity I looked it up and the Greek word being translated is "epithymia", which means passion, lust, or another definition that I really like is "what is forbidden". That dark cloud of forbidden passion that lures us in, promises us everything, but only gives short term extacy and leaves us with long term pain.

It's that pain that He wants us to avoid, and His Grace was given to train us to avoid just that. It's the pass that allows us to travel that narrow road ... that leads to Him ... waving your pass of Grace while traveling on the wide road will still only lead you to where that wide road is headed ...

“Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able." Luke 13:24 (ESV)

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it." Matthew 7:13 (NIV)

It may be narrow, but there is always enough room for merging! It's guaranteed! =)

Honking (cuz I love Jesus)
~Matthew