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Gleanings From The Word

Tag: Matthew 7

  • Spoiled Springs

    Beaver damage reminds me of the dangers of false prophets

    A beaver dam - the wtar covered over what used to be a fresg cold spring of drinking water

    Years ago, I had been fishing at a nearby lake. Not far away was a spring I had visited many times. The walk into the spring was about a mile. The water was always cold, refreshing and safe to drink. was always worth the hike.

    This time, things were different. An enterprising beaver had built a dam, and the spring was now underwater behind the dam. So much for cold. So much for refreshing. So much for safe to drink. 

    Where there have been beavers around, the water is likely contaminated with Giardiasis (or beaver fever as it’s called in these parts). Giardiasis is an intestinal illness caused by the parasite Giardia lamblia. Beaver fever will leave you with a great deal of ugly abdominal distress for weeks and is highly contagious. It’s not the sort of thing that you want to take a chance with.

    The promise of the refreshing water couldn’t be delivered on.

    Something similar happens with false teachers. They bring false gospels and lies. They twist the truth to serve their own ends and agendas. They seek to please man, not God.

    Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. Matthew 7:15 ESV

    I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
    Galatians 1:6-9 ESV 

    They promise what they can’t deliver. They promise living water, but provide empty wells. They promise freedom, but deliver bondage. They promise salvation but deliver damnation.

    These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved. For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. 2 Peter 2:17-19 ESV

    How do we know which teachings are false? By knowing what we believe and why we believe it. By diligent study of the Word. By making sure that we look at Bible passages in context and in comparison to the Word as a whole. By learning some solid Christian doctrine.

    If you don’t know what you believe and why you believe it, then you may find yourself standing at the foot of a dry spring. You could be seeking living water but end up perishing of thirst instead.

    Read the Word. Read the Word. Read the Word.

    May you know the truth, and the truth of Jesus set you free.

    SUMMARY

    I hiked back into a spring I loved, only to find a beaver had dammed it and turned safe water into a health risk. It reminded me that false teachers work the same way — promising living water while handing us something contaminated.

    TAKEAWAY

    A once-safe spring, dammed by a beaver, becomes a picture of how false teaching corrupts something good

    Scripture (Matthew 7:15, Galatians 1:6-9, 2 Peter 2:17-19) warns plainly about false prophets and false gospels

    The safeguard against false teaching is knowing what you believe, studying the Word in context, and standing on sound doctrine

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  • Is Christianity Too Narrow? What critics miss about the gospel.

    Is Christianity Too Narrow? What critics miss about the gospel.

    A narrow uphill trail in the woods - Is Christianity Too Narrow? What critics miss about the gospel.

    We hiked up the mountain through the forest. The trail wasn’t very wide, at places almost non-existent.  We had two choices: use the path or scramble up where there was no path. We chose the narrow path.

    Now, if you have been a Christian for any length of time, that phrase narrow way reminded you of a Bible passage (perhaps in whole, or maybe just the idea).

    Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. Matthew 7:13

    In other places, Jesus makes it abundantly clear that the only way is through faith in Him. There is no other plan.

    Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through Me. John 14:3

    That has led to charges that Christianity itself is very narrow. Those charges have merit; there is only one way, and it doesn’t get any narrower than that. That’s God’s plan. He created everything, and He gets to make the rules. There is a narrow path.

    There are some things that the complainers don’t recognize.

    Firstly, without Jesus, there is no way to be forgiven and reconciled to God at all. He would have been perfectly righteous and just to allow everyone to perish in their sins. That’s fair punishment for rebellion against the king.

    Jesus didn’t have to come to redeem us. He chose to, and that is incredible love and unmerited grace.

    Secondly. While some may claim that the way of Christ is exclusive by its one-way nature, it’s also the least exclusive club in the world.

    The way of Christ is open to people of any age, from any culture, of either gender, from all socio-economic backgrounds, and at any level of sin. You don’t have to be religious enough, righteous enough or good enough. You don’t need lots of money or education to enter through the narrow path.

    You can’t earn your way in by good works. You can’t buy your way in. You can’t be born in. It has one requirement, faith in Christ, and even the worst among us have an opportunity to choose that.

    Christians are not people who have their act together. They are flawed people who are being transformed into the image of Christ. They will let you down. They may be hypocritical. They might look very much like Jesus. Then again, neither do you.

    The difference is that they responded to Christ by faith and were redeemed.

    Churches are messy places, but God will clean them up. The world outside the church is equally flawed, but without Christ, it will never get better.

    Narrow? Absolutely!

    Exclusive? Hardly!

    God calls, and we have a choice to make. Will we respond, take the narrow path, and follow Him ,or will we reject Him?

    Hallelu Yah (Praise God) 

    Be blessed 

    Kevin 

    You might also like. “Enter through the narrow gate.”

    SUMMARY

    A narrow mountain trail becomes a vivid illustration of Jesus’ teaching about the narrow way to salvation — one path, one requirement, one Savior. Though Christianity is rightly called narrow, it is paradoxically the most inclusive invitation in the world.

    TAKEAWAY

    • The narrow way is real and intentional: Jesus is unambiguous that faith in Him is the only path to the Father, and God, as Creator, has the right to set that condition.
    • Narrow doesn’t mean exclusive: The way of Christ is open to every person regardless of age, background, culture, wealth, or depth of sin — the only requirement is faith.
    • Grace, not fairness, is the starting point: God owed humanity no rescue; that Jesus came to redeem us at all is an act of extraordinary love and unmerited grace.

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