The Narrow Road -Leads To Eternal Lifeby: Erlinda E. Budoyan Looking back, I can tell, that the way to eternal life is very narrow. So narrow that only few people have found it. As I continue my journey, I've learned why the road is narrow in contrast to the broad way, that many have followed.The narrow road is, the way of love or the way of God ( God is love) in a plain word - the way of obedience to His holy, righteous, and good laws and commandments. It is really hard to love. I am not talking about emotion only. God have told us how to love Him, our neighbor, and our enemy ( if we have one). These are the ways how we can love, but remember, He loves us first. As I was growing up in my spiritual life, there are questions that are bothering me regarding the religious belief that I have in that time. do you sometimes feel that way? well, some of the questions that run into my mind are: Is this the real church ? How do I know? well, there are times that I just stick for awhile for the sake of family or friend but eventually I left because there are obvious doctrine that it is not right. I've been to many fellowship already, and I feel something is lacking. I still feel empty or there is something inside of me that is missing. I need to find it. To stick around for the sake of people is not really filling the gap. Do you sometime feels that way? what did you do? One time, I work as a Dining Receptionist at the Officer's Mess at Subic Bay, one day there was this officer that wanted to see our Chef, and I've learn that he is a jew, and he booked a dinner for the Passover at the club. After the dinner I went upstairs and saw this 'unleavened bread or cracker' and my waiter said , that's a jew bread. I don't know why I said in my heart "why God has a favorite? if I am only a Jew I can also take a Passover," My Quest For The God of The Jews This thought doesn't go away, it bothers me so much or shall I say, it awakens my thirst. You know, that Passover night became my turning point. I started seeking for the God of the Jews. There are times I will travel more or less three hours to go to a place where people go to see miracles hoping to find God in that place. But God wasn't there. I still long for something until I can no longer have the peace of mind, I resigned from my work- the Subic bay and went to Baguio City. In this place I started my search for God. I've been to many fellowship but none can quench my thirst. I do not know about the 'calling' at that time, all I want is to find the God of the Jews. and I am not a bible reader during that time, but I am religious. I can say I am a praying lady. When Baguio City was hit with an earthquake July 16, 1990, magnitude of 7.7 4:26 pm (PDT) 3:26 pm ( PST) many magazines of my sister in-law fall off the cabinet and the magazine that caught my attention was 'the book of revelation unveiled' and I started scanning and reading and my sister in law said, I cannot forget what she said that moment ' maybe it is the end of the world' I was really scared, and in our tent I led people to pray using my former religion's prayer. The Earthquake Triggered My Desires to Find The True God- the God of the Jews The aftershocks continue almost every minute and many died. The city, stinks with dead bodies not yet recovered. After a week or two we come home and that's the time my sister in law requested booklets from the Worldwide Church of God by Herbert W Armstrong. This is a time when I really dived into studying the bible. In March 30, 1991 I was baptized at Camp John Hay and I just can't believed what I have experienced after my baptism. Peace and Joy is really overwhelming. Peace and Joy that I never experienced. It's like the Veil was remove and I can clearly see and understand the Bible. This scripture will remind us that if we seek Him we will find Him 1 Chronicles 28: 9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off forever. 10 Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it." My First Passover - The God of the Jews fulfilled my heart desire. What an awesome feeling! This feast of God is the most solemn of all the 7 annual feastival. we have a service, no fellowship, feet washing, the partaking the emblem of Yahshuas body and blood- unleavened bread & wine, the same bread I found during the Passover of the Jews at the Officers Mess. This is the night that Yahshua will be taken out and be a sacrificial lamb for the sins of the world. After we finished we sung one hymn and go home. I really cannot described in details the wonderful thoughts and emotions had that night. I just need to know more about The God of the Jews which I've learned that He is the God of Israel not only the Jews, and also the God of the Gentiles. Through Paul, He is reaching out to them. Romans 3: 29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: 30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. 31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. Romans 9:unto glory, 24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? 25 As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. 26 And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God. Mark 14: 22 And as they did eat, Yahshua took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body. 23 And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. 24 And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. 25 Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God. Purpose Of God's Calling I've learned that God is not saving the world NOW, but is calling a few to be trained as Kings and Priest and Judges in the coming kingdom of God. Revelations 1: and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; 5 And from Yahshua Messiah, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Revelation 20: little season. 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. 1 Corinthians 6: 1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? 2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life. Romans 8: 28- 30 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. 1 Corinthians 1: 26- 28 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are," Thirsty for Righteousness and Was Filled Matthew 5: 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Psalms 119: 172 My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness. I finally that understand that what was lacking in me is God (Love). I've been to many religion and I recall not one of them mentioning o teaching about God's Laws and Commandments. If they will mention it , they said it is done away and obsolete, Now only love, no more obedience, for Christ keeps the law for us already, or it was nailed to the cross. So I keep studying and learned from my Pastor and compare it with the scriptures just like the bereans. We cannot just believe and follow everything what the Pastor says unless it is written and consistent with the other scriptures. Paul is an Apostles but the bereans is not contented with what Paul said they check it in the bible daily. Acts 17: 10 - 12 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few." So I dig more about God's Laws and Commandments and I found out, it is not done away nor obsolete. It is in fact written in the hearts of those who make a new covenant with God. Those who are Called by God at this age. Hebrews 8: 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people." I was really thinking about these, if God remove the laws and commandments, why is it that He puts the laws in our hearts and minds - causing us to remember? The last verses of the old testament reads, Malachi 4: 4 Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. 5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: 6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." We can see that God is mindful of His laws. Obedience To God's Laws and Commandments means We Love God The Church of God I attended, keeps not only the Ten commandments, but even the food laws, the seventh day sabbaths and the Lord's Seven Annual Holy Days. I asked why all these? And the answer is in the pages of the Bible. That keeping his commandments and laws is a sign that we love Him and as a result The Father and Yahshua will dwell in the believer by the holy spirit. John 14: 15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. 21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23 Yahshua answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." Requirements To Received Eternal Life It is a sign that you have repented from your transgressions of His Laws. His 1 John 3: 9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. Matthew 19: 16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Matthew 19: 16-19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. These scriptures confirmed that the laws and commandments of God is not done away. Matthew 5: 17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. I also learned that God's laws and commandments are holy, righteous and good. Romans 7: 12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. It converts the person, and enlightened the eyes. we can see clearly what is evil and what is good. Psalms 19: 7-11 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. {law: or, doctrine} {converting: or, restoring} 8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. {true: Heb. truth} 10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. {the honeycomb: Heb. the dropping of honeycombs} 11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward." So I said to myself, if these things are the result of keeping the laws of God, why is it obsolete? I really don't understand why people said it is obsolete but i do get an idea. They do not really understand about Justification by faith. To them when Christ shed His blood they believe their sins are cleansed. They don't understand that in order for us to be cleansed from our " past sins" we need to acknowledge that we are a sinner, transgressor of the laws 1 John 3: 4-11. And we must Repent ( stop transgressing His laws). They believe they are not required to keep it. What was purge because of our ignorance of the law was our Old Sins. 2 Peter 1: 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. {barren: Gr. idle} 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. This is really the problem. I hope this will help you examine your faith. So my thirst was really quench for I know that God(Love) was now in me. God has to live in the believer by the holy spirit. There are 3 steps in order to receive the holy spirit. But first God has to call a man. John 6: 44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.believed not, and who should betray him. 65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. Acts 2: 36- 38, Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Yahshua , whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. 37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. , Repentance ( stop breaking the laws and commandments of God) and then baptism in the form of immersion as a symbol that we are buried with christ and .Romans 6: 3- 4 "...baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. ( Colossian 2: 12) and the receive the holy spirit.baptism.once the holy Spirit is receive, there is calmness inside. Thirst is quenched. It is now easier to love because it is the love of God that is shed to others not our own love. Romans 5: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Now because the holy spirit dwells in us we can now love God, one another as Yahshua loves each of His disciples, Our neighbor, and enemy. 1 John 4: 19 We love him, because he first loved us. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be save (1) This is loving love God John 14:15 "If you love me, keep my commandments " Sad to say and it is horrible to see, when people make void of God's commandments, it produces pain, affliction and death. Many professing Christians taught the people that God's laws and commandment are obsolete and done away. That is very scary-living in a world without commandments, laws, judgements, and ordinances. (you see our very own world today) I was so appalled that those who called themselves Christians do not want God's laws and commandments in their life. I hope you will truly examine the Scriptures that the blessings of God be upon you. Lawlessness was prophesied in the last days, and we are in the last days. Is this prophecy fulfilled in your life? I hope not. It is my hearts desire to you who reads this that you may learn to tremble at His word. Isaiah 66: 1 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? 2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembles at my word. Matthew 24: 12 And because lawlessness shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. Psalms 119: 126 It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law. How Can We Love God, Brethren, Neighbor, and enemy( if you have one) John 14: 15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. Romans 13:10 Love does no harm to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." This is supposed to be the easiest thing to obey because loving our own flesh and blood is so easy, but i knew a lot of people that were harmed by their own family or relatives. This is so painful, reading and hearing it on media. John 13: 34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 Love suffers long, and is kind; Love envy not; Love vaunt not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Does not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil; 6 Rejoices not in lawlessness, but rejoices in the truth; 7 Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Loves fails not..." God never leave us without clear instruction. He is love therefore He knows what is meant to love and be love. But sad to say, because God's way is narrow people just totally reject His laws, commandments, and Judgements to our own destructions. Let us here what He said to people who cannot love ( obey Him) 1 Corinthians 15: 1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profits me nothing. ( 3 ) Are you ready for this? Love your enemy! I know, this is the hardest thing to do. How can I do that and for what? well, to answer the first question is not really hard because it was God who answers it. to bless them, do good to them, and pray for them. To sum it up, do to others what you want others do to you. To answer the second question, God Himself told us why, so that we will become His children- blessed children. These will make it easier for us to do. Now He is talking to His people whom He has given power- the holy spirit. it is actually the love of God in them poured by the holy spirit, not our love because it is indeed hard to do without His help. Matthew 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, God Himself Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven..." In conclusion, the narrow gate is the way of God-the way of love the way of obedience. But people do not want to be limited by any restrictions for their own good-sad to say. The narrow way is the sacrificial way. The willingness to sacrifice even His Only begotten Son that we may live. I hope and pray that you will choose to walk in this way. Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it. |
authorI am a Erlinda Budoyan, a midwife, real estate agent, affiliate marketer, article writer deaconess in our congregation. Married to a young and loving husband, a deacon, Steve and we have a son in the Lord Leo. We live in Davao City, Philippines. Archives |