Day 5: Misconceptions and strivings
Then [Jesus] called the crowd to Him along with His disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me" (Mark 8:34).
Lord God Almighty, all wisdom and knowledge are Yours. You are the God who understands the way to [wisdom]. You alone know where it dwells, for You view the ends of the earth and see everything under the heavens (Job 28:23-24).
Often, we struggle with the wisdom of Your ways, and the premises of Your principles. And yet, all that we blindly struggle against is exactly what we deeply desire—for it is all that will accomplish what You lovingly appoint for our greatest good.
In this life of tears and fears, struggle and turmoil, our hearts long for peace, perfection, relief, and rest. We long for heaven, but we often misunderstand it to be a sort of continuation of earth. We employ mortal imaginings to determine its constructs, mortal scales and capabilities to measure its attainability, mortal strivings to bring about its realization.
Scripture teaches us otherwise. The perfection we desire is not possible as long as the same sins, the same inclinations, and the same nature are in us. And if we are honest, we admit that on our best day every single one of us is full of sin—capable of the most wretched evil.
We cannot "breathe the air of heaven" any more than a fish can breathe the air of dry land, unless we are reborn, and regenerated, and remade in preparation for eternal life with a holy God. The Lord Jesus explained this to Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council:
“Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again...born of water and the Spirit" (John 3:3; 5).
Jesus would also declare, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). Many find this offensive. So offensive, in fact, that He was put to death—yet it was exactly as He had purposed:
"I lay down My life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again" (John 10:17-18).
Lord, we are wise in our own eyes— often spurning what helps us, rejecting what cures us, taking offense at what saves and protects us. But You are God. You know the way to the abode of light, and the place where darkness resides (Job 38:19). You know the gates of death...the gates of the deepest darkness (Job 38:17). You alone can show us the path of life (Psalm 16:11).
The Lord Jesus taught "Broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But... narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it" (Matthew 7:13-14).
As the pioneer and perfecter of faith (Hebrews 12:2) He walked the narrow, self-denying way of the cross Himself. Help us to follow His example. Help us to lay down our misconceptions and our strivings. Help us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, follow Jesus.
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