From Eliyahu
Consider this:
Life in the Kingdom is meaningful, fulfilling and, yes, challenging. It is the narrow way that leads to eternal life. The broad way: Life dedicated to pursuing selfish interests of this world, seems appealing, can be fun sometimes, but it is very deceptive. Yeshua said that broad way “leads to destruction.”
Usually when people read what Messiah said in Scripture about the two ways, they think it is referring to the afterlife. This is one reason some people, most people, choose the broad way to destruction. Many of them doubt that there is an afterlife. Others think that God loves everybody, so no worries. A lot of others just don’t care.
Actually though, Yeshua’s teaching of the two ways originates in the Torah, is clarified in the Psalms, and is demonstrated in the Prophets. In all of those places the two ways refers to this life, and only secondarily to the afterlife. In this sense the narrow way to life is referring to the abundant quality of life and blessings that come to those who choose to live in Messiah’s Kingdom right now by walking in His way. It is this excellent way that we are teaching as we delve deeply into Yeshua’s words and deeds in the Gospels.
Yeshua also warn us about another way, the broad way of this world that most people choose for their life. He calls it “the broad way that leads to destruction.” Is this ‘destruction’ literal – in this life?
Actually, very often the way of this world is not the big party some hope for, but is the fast track to misery, destruction, and death – all too real. Scripture tells us not to fall in the trap of loving the world:
“Don’t love the world, neither the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the Father’s love isn’t in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, isn’t the Father’s, but is the world’s. The world is passing away with its lusts, but he who does Elohim’s will remains forever.” 1 John 2:15-17
When you set your heart on acquiring the things of the world, even with the best of intentions in mind, you have chosen the broad way that leads to destruction. The Father is not in that choice, according to Scripture. In affluent countries such as the USA many people start out thinking they are going to ‘live their dream.’ Some attain what they are after, but only after sacrificing a great deal of far greater value to get it. Many people start out with high hopes on the world’s road, only to end up disillusioned, suffering loss, and feeling depressed.
According to the CDC, 15,000,000 physician office visits occur each year with depressive disorders as the primary diagnosis. This number probably does not include most of the people addicted to drugs or alcohol, since they are usually using their substance abuse to cope.
Substance abuse is a deadly path to take. In fact, CDC researchers found a staggering 110,236 people died by overdose in the single 12-month period of 2022, a stunning new record. Further, people suffering from depression have approximately a 10% lifetime suicide risk. When combined with substance abuse, the suicide risk rises to… Read More
