Page 28 - The Gate and the Way

the desires of your own soul?”
One path is afflicted, leads to life, and “few there be that find it.” The other is a broad
way. It is crowded with pilgrims who assure one another that it is a good and pleasant way.
Notwithstanding the repeated promises of the myriad of preachers along this great highway,
its end is destruction and woe.

Jeremiah 5:31
The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule on their own authority; and My
people love it so! But what will you do at the end of it?

My goal in this chapter is to point out a very important consequence that arises from
the mindset we have adopted. The man who has an expectation of being called to suffer will
be much more accepting, and less likely to complain, when he encounters trials and
difficulties. The man who believes the best path is one of blessing, satisfaction and comfort
will find much to complain about, even finding fault with God, when his experiences fall
short of his soul’s desires.
Last week while riding my motorcycle I was struck by an elderly lady in her 90s. This
resulted in a serious injury to my left leg. I received a compound fracture, and my ankle was
dislocated. Surgery was required and steel plates and screws were put in my left leg.
Although I have had much grace from God, there is some pain and discomfort
associated with such an injury. I was in the hospital two days and then sent home. My
daughter Kristin invited me to stay with her, as I was instructed to keep the leg elevated and
not put any weight on it for two weeks. The evening my daughter brought me home it was
a bit warm in the home, but we opened the windows, as it was evening, and it cooled off
adequately.
The next day was Friday and my daughter had to go to work. She left the air
conditioner on for me, but the house grew warmer and warmer throughout the day. We live
in Georgia and even though it is September the temperature reached the low 90s. I was in
a considerable amount of discomfort from my injury. In addition to this, I began getting
hotter and was sweating lying in the bed. When my daughter came home she realized at
once that the A.C. wasn’t working. She called her landlord, but was told it would be Monday
before a repairman could be sent out.
The week-end continued hot, and in addition to the pain and heat I had some
encounters through e-mail and other venues in which some Christians were acting, or
speaking, in ways that tempted me to be short, or cross with them.
Have you ever been “hot and bothered?” In such times it is very easy for a person to
speak or act in a manner unbecoming the nature and Spirit of Christ. Perhaps we might be
tempted to complain against God, knowing that He could make our circumstances much
easier and pleasant. When encountering some provocation from another human, we may
be inclined to speak impatiently, without the gentleness, the self-control, longsuffering,
humility and peace that Yahweh would have us to manifest.
During the three days at home following the accident when I did not have air
conditioning, the Spirit led me to contemplate these things. I saw clearly that Yahweh was
giving me an opportunity to be enlarged spiritually through my experiences of suffering. If
I could remain patient, gentle, calm, thoughtful of others while refusing to complain, find
fault, or bemoan my suffering, then I would make an advancement that could only be
gained under such circumstances.