THE WAY OF LIFE

Jesus said, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.  For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”  (Matthew 7:13-14 ESV)

The concept of "The Way of Life and the Way of Death" is a profound biblical theme that underscores the moral and spiritual dichotomy faced by humanity. This theme is deeply rooted in the Scriptures, where the choices between life and death, blessing and curse, obedience and rebellion, are presented as fundamental to the covenant relationship between God and His people.

Kallistos Ware, in his book “The Orthodox Way,” writes, “Christianity is more than a theory about the universe, more than teachings written down on paper; it is a path along which we must journey – in the deepest and richest sense, the way of life.”

The way of life and the way of death are not merely ethical choices but are deeply theological, reflecting one's relationship with God. The way of life is characterized by faith, obedience, and communion with God, leading to eternal life. In contrast, the way of death is marked by unbelief, disobedience, and separation from God, resulting in spiritual death.

Throughout Scripture, the call to choose life is a call to covenant faithfulness, a call to walk in the ways of the Lord, and a call to embrace the salvation offered through Jesus Christ. This choice is both a present reality and an eternal destiny, underscoring the urgency and significance of the decision each person must make. 

-- Adapted from Bible Hub

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THE JESUS WAY

“Thomas said to Jesus, ‘Lord, we don’t know where You are going, so how can we know the way?’ Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” (John 14:5-6 NIV)

Bible teacher E. Stanley Jones told the story of a missionary who got lost in an African jungle.  There was nothing around him but thick bush and a few cleared spaces.  He came upon a local village and asked one of the men if he could lead him out of the jungle.  When the native agreed, the missionary said, "Well, show me the way."  The African man responded, "Walk."  So they walked and hacked their way through unmarked jungle for more than an hour.  The missionary began to get worried.  "Are you sure this is the right way?  Where is the path?"  The man said, "Friend, in this place there is no path.  I am the path."

It is a jungle out there -- from pop culture to pop psychology, the path of life is overgrown with too many opinions and too little time.  It's hard to see the forest for the trees.  We need clear direction.  Jesus said, "I am the light of the world.  He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life" (John 8:12).  Jesus walked in His Father's footsteps, illuminating a path for others who desire to find their way. 

-- Lenya Heitzig and Penny Pierce Rose in “Pathway to God's Treasure: Ephesians” 

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PERSEVERANCE IN DISCIPLESHIP

“Look to the LORD and His strength; seek His face always.”  (1 Chronicles 16:11)

We survive in the way of faith not because we have extraordinary stamina but because God is righteous. Christian discipleship is a process of paying more and more attention to God's righteousness and less and less attention to our own; finding the meaning of our lives not by probing our moods and motives and morals but by believing God's will and purposes; making a map of the faithfulness of God, not charting the rise and fall of our enthusiasms.  It is out of such a reality that we acquire perseverance. 

-- Eugene Peterson in “A Long Obedience in the Same Direction”

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