Romans 3:16 – in their paths are ruin and misery,
We got a “feel good” verse for you today. Simple and to the point – some folks are on the path to ruin and misery.
To unpack this verse a bit, we have to understand the context. This was part of Paul’s summation that both Jews and Gentiles were guilty before God. He then went on to declare all men were sinners.
The verses we find in Romans 3:13-18 indicate that the whole of man’s inner being is controlled by sin. The mind, the heart, and the will, when measured by God’s perfect righteousness, no human being is sinless.
Paul here is digging deeper into a study of a lost sinner, from top to bottom. In verses 13-14, he emphasizes human speech. Verses 17 deals with the mind and 18 tackles arrogant pride.
This leaves us with verses 15 and 16, which both speak to our walk, our feet.
Ephesians 6:15 – and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace
The Christians’ feet are protected by the Gospel of peace, but the lost, sinful man, brings death, destruction, and misery wherever he goes.
The thing about our path, the tragedy of sinful, wrong living and decisions, is that the destruction that comes with that doesn’t always occur immediately, but it will indeed arrive!
When we are in habitual sin, lost in our relationship with Christ, living for self and personal gain, we are with most of the world, on the broad road that leads to destruction.
Matthew 7:13-14 – 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.
My encouragement to you – pursue the narrow gate. It might be uncomfortable, it might take discipline, and it might be very opposite of how your family, friends, and the world lives or think –but that is why “those who find it are few”.
Let’s look “Upward” – as Upward Men – and continue to strive to leave a legacy of true success. That means, let’s be men that are in the company of “the few”.
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