“‘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 strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.’ Mathew 7:13–14
“Before you are two ways—the broad way of self indulgence and the narrow path of self-sacrifice. Into the broad road you can take selfishness, pride, and love of the world; but those who walk in the narrow way must lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset. Which road have you chosen—the road which leads to everlasting death, or the road which leads to glory and immortality?
“There never was a more solemn time in the history of the world than the time in which we are now living. Our eternal interests are at stake, and we should arouse to the importance of making our calling and election sure. We dare not risk our eternal interest on mere probabilities. We must be in earnest. What we are, what we are doing, what is to be our course of our action in the future, are all questions of untold moment, and we cannot afford to be listless, indifferent, unconcerned. It is important for each one of us to inquire, ‘What is eternity to me?’ Are our feet in the path that leads to heaven, or in the broad road that leads to perdition?
“Those who make a success of the Christian life will count all things as loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ. Only those who are abiding in Christ can know what true life is. They realise the value of true religion. They have brought their talents of influence and means and ability to the altar of consecration, seeking only to know and do the will of Him who has died to redeem them.” –Our High Calling, p. 8
Since the fall of Adam, mankind is not able to follow the right way by themselves, but there are few who have chosen this narrow way to find eternal life. The examples of Enoch, Elijah, and others are good examples for us to follow the right way. Remember that Jesus came for me and for you who may have lost the way and to show us how to find this way again. This is found only by repentance, because He did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance (Luke 5:32). And after repentance they will choose the royal way that leads to heaven.
What are fitting inquiries of those who are convicted of sin?
“Men and brethren, what shall we do?” “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Acts 2:37; 16:30. Concerning this let us follow the right way to reach heaven.
WHERE WISDOM BEGINS
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10
There is a wide difference between what God has given men capacity to become and the degree of excellence to which they actually attain.
The word of God presents the most potent means of education, as well as the most valuable source of knowledge, which is within the reach of man. The understanding adapts itself to the dimensions of the subjects with which it is required to deal. If occupied with trivial, common place matters only and not summonsed to earnest effort to comprehend the great and eternal truths, it becomes starved and enfeebled.
Hence the value of the scriptures as a means of intellectual culture.
The more closely God’s word is searched and the better understood, the more vividly will the student realise that there is beyond, infinite wisdom, knowledge and power.
“If the youth will but learn of the heavenly teacher, as Daniel did, they will know for themselves that the fear of the Lord is indeed the beginning of wisdom.” –That I May Know Him, p. 8. Let us search the Scriptures for the source of the fear of God.
Immanuel Sulley
BAMI STUDENT—TANZANIA