Pastor Vaughn's Day by Day

Only along the road:

C .S.  Lewis in his book Mere Christianity says "There are certain things in Christianity that can be understood from the outside, before you have become a Christian.  But there are a great many things that cannot be understood until after you have gone a certain distance along the Christian road."

Matthew 19:16-21
16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" 17 So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." 18 He said to Him, "Which ones?" Jesus said, "'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,' 19 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' " 20 The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?" 21 Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." 

This man without actually following Christ could understand right and wrong and good perameters for living a healthy life.  However, he wouldn't have approached Christ to ask "What else do I still lack" unless he understood that something was still missing in his life.

Just like this man, as the story goes on to tell us, most people never get past the thought of selling it all and also never receive the knowledge of God and intimacy with Him that is only available "along the road" as you follow Christ. Of course there is a cost associated with traveling on this road, but traveling the wrong road will cost you much more.

Matthew 7:13-14
Jesus says... 13 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

For those traveling the narrow road or considering paying the price to get on it, here is a promise from Jesus that is only accessible "along the road"... Revelation 21:5 "Behold, I make all things new"

Great song! http://youtu.be/9PilfgFt-S4