The Way Goes Through the Flesh!

The Way Goes Through the Flesh!

“Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.’” Matt. 7:14.

This is the way Jesus went and which He consecrated. It goes through the flesh. Heb. 10:20. Jesus says that only the few find it, and experience confirms that statement. Satan tried to derail Jesus and get Him to perform remarkable deeds before people so He could gain the glory of this world. However, he did not succeed with Him, yet he succeeded with many of those who began to follow Jesus.

When a person is about to begin working for God, the temptation is to try to make it appear as something great in the eyes of people and thus bring glory to God. The reason that so many people go astray on this point is that in the depths of their hearts they seek their own glory.

How many people haven’t had this thought: If I could only speak with the tongues of men and angels, or had faith to move mountains, then I would convince people and do great things for God; or if I had the gift of prophecy or knew all the mysteries, or if I gave away everything I owned to the poor, then people would have to understand that I am a servant of the Lord. Paul says just the opposite: None of that helps anything if you do not have love! 1 Cor. 13. What is so special about love? You cannot receive it unless you walk on the narrow way, unless the flesh is crucified.

Love is longsuffering, is not envious, etc. If you had a large sum of money and gave it to the poor, you might possibly get your name into the newspaper, but what good is that if you become impatient in your home? What are you then? How many people are there who read and study to no end to get to know all kinds of mysteries so they can make a brilliant speech? Perhaps they can then be a “somebody” in people’s eyes? But when they come home after making such a speech and are bitter toward their wife what are they then? If you want to be someone, you will have to follow Jesus on the narrow way through the veil, which is your flesh. It doesn’t matter what kind of gifts you have if you let the flesh rule. If you had faith to move a mountain, you would still be nothing if your flesh was not crucified. Everything that has such a splendid appearance and which so many people believe is the way is only for the satisfying of the flesh, and many great deeds and sacrifices are only self-imposed religion. Col. 2:18-23.

“Do not be led astray by various and strange doctrines. For it is good to be strengthened in your heart by grace and not by sacrificial food. Those who have been occupied with such things have not profited by them.” Heb. 13:9—Swedish tr.

There are many people who, because of their great sacrifices and efforts, prepare a really good meal for their flesh. It is unbelievable how sacrificial many people are on the heights; but the altar at the place of sacrifice which God has chosen for them is empty and torn down. Deut. 12:2, 13. It is the altar that sanctifies the gift. Matt. 23:19. It doesn’t matter how large the offering is if it is not laid on the altar of the Lord. Of what use is it if you can boast of weeks of prayer and fasting for God’s cause if the flesh is given full rein? Only the few find the narrow way, and there are even fewer who walk on it.

We are to be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus. It teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts. Tit. 2:11-12. By it we can receive help. Heb. 4:15-16. We can put to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit so we can always abide in love. This is the way to the gifts and to working for God’s kingdom on earth. On this way we become “somebody.” 1 Cor. 15:10.