The Chasm
There is a
spiritual chasm which separates God’s Holy Kingdom from that of the sinful
world. The chasm is deep and wide, making it impossible for anyone to cross
over from this world and come into the Kingdom of God, except by one pathway
which bridges these two kingdoms. This pathway was built when Jesus Christ died
on the cross as atonement for all of our sins. It is narrow, hard to follow,
and each person, on our own, must cross over this chasm. And through the grace
of Jesus Christ believers can enter into the Kingdom of God.
This crossing
is also unique as the bright shining light of Christ’s glory makes it
impossible for any to see across this pathway. We can only see where it begins,
then we must trust Jesus’ tender voice to guide us the rest of the way across
the chasm. And we can only hear Jesus’ voice when we allow the Holy Spirit to
come into our hearts and introduce us to our great Savior.
It can be very
hard to take the first step out on the pathway over the chasm, when we cannot see
where we are going, and must trust our Savior alone to guide us. We must avoid
looking over the edge, at how far we can fall, all the way to hell, if we lose
our concentration on Jesus. We must also not lose our balance by turning
around, and looking back at all we have left behind in this world. All those we
love who are unbelievers; including our spouse, children, parents, brothers,
sisters, and friends. All of the wealth, pleasures, and accomplishments we have
accumulated here on earth.
Some are able
to go right across the pathway at our Lord’s bidding. Others must go one step
at the time, often wondering what they are doing here on this pathway, that it
is crazy trusting Jesus Christ for everything. Some may even take a step or two
back towards the world and all it offers. But as we continue to feel the firm
underpinning of the path with each step we take, as our love, faith, and trust
in our God continues to grow, it becomes much easier to continue on towards our
goal. Until we are willing to give our lives to our great God, and He removes
any fears which would keep us from crossing the chasm, from coming into His
Kingdom. We are satisfied and happy to become children of God, our only claim
to fame being how much our God loves us.
There are many
who come to this chasm and look to find a better way to cross it, for they are
unwilling to cross it by faith alone. Let us build a big, beautiful church and
school to worship the Lord with. Let us find the best pastors and teachers to
fill our church and school to the hilt. Surely this will get the Lord’s
attention and He will provide an easier pathway for us to cross. Or if we bring
in the most intelligent, learned people, they surely can devise a superior way
to cross over the chasm.
Others provide
money for the poor, the needy, often by tithing their earnings and giving them
to the church. Surely the Lord will notice such good works and help us across
the chasm. Many fight for the rights of all people, for surely human bondage
through slavery is what the Lord detests most. It is much worse than slavery to
sin, and by freeing others the Lord will make a better path for us.
These and many
other groups stand looking out at the crossing, waiting for the Lord to make it
easier for them to come into His Kingdom. These people believe they are doing
all that is humanly possible to carry out Christ’s work on earth and are merely
waiting for their just rewards. There are so many that are searching to be part
of the Lord’s Kingdom. But they are never willing to completely let go of their
own will, their own thinking, and trust in Jesus to guide them across this
narrow chasm.
Others look at
the narrow crossing and think the only way across is to have a guide show them
the way. They turn to pastors and leaders for help, but man is an imperfect
being. Those who guide us must use only God’s Word to show us the way, and it
is too easy for them to rely on their own reasoning. They are but mere mortals
who can lose their way on the path, often taking with them all who were following
them. Man cannot save anyone. No intermediary can guide or tell you how to
cross the chasm. They can only tell you where to start. This trip to cross the
chasm, this battle to save your soul, by giving up your will and accepting
God’s will; is between you and your God alone.
The rich and
the powerful have never even considered crossing on this narrow path. They live
on the worldly side of the chasm, believing God will someday provide a safe
crossing for them, one that will not be as risky or require them to give up so
much. They live on the more expensive land by the narrowest part of the chasm,
so they can have a shorter trip across it. For being rich they will have the
most baggage to bring with them, all of their ego, pride, and worldly pleasures.
This baggage will make God’s Kingdom a better place to live, a more bearable
place to make one’s residence in. They live in lavish luxury as they await the
Lord to come and make a safe and enjoyable way for them to come into His
Kingdom.
Then comes all
the church leaders and pastors with their degrees, their letters of praise, and
figures showing how their work expanded the congregations. They can help show
the Lord how to make His kingdom grow. Others pack in their suitcases the
correct worship service, whether it is classical, liturgical, contemporary, on
a certain day, or many other requirements. Some believe there should be closed
communion, others statues of saints for all to pray to, and still others
believe no alcohol consumption should be allowed. And the continual debate over
whether to water baptize by sprinkling, pouring or immersion; when all that is
needed is the indwelling of the Spirit in our hearts.
Next in line
are all the people who would believe devoutly in their church denomination no
matter what it may be. Their attitude is I was born a _____ I was baptized a
_____ and I will die a _____. They all wait for God to validate their choice as
the correct church by making a crossing specifically for their denomination.
For surely no one can get into the Lord’s kingdom if they are not of the right
denomination.
A little
farther down are the many worldly sexual rights groups. The women waving flags
so our Lord will justify their right to kill any baby living in their body. And
God should also be called a woman, giving woman equal rights with the men.
Others believe it is alright to have sex before marriage. And shouldn’t a
little homosexuality also be allowed for those who want to indulge in same sex
relationships. Without these Heaven would be a little too old fashion for
anyone to enjoy.
There are many
ongoing discussions among these people who are waiting to cross over the chasm.
Some civilly discuss their different beliefs in a philosophical manner. Others
argue back and forth, the extreme protest and demonstrate loudly. They all
believe God will answer their demands. Their worldly baggage continues to be
stacked higher and higher along the worldly chasm bank, yet none are able to
cross over the pathway. For our Father has not, and will not make another way
for anyone to come into His Kingdom, except through Jesus. And all this noise
and rhetoric merely confuses those who sincerely want to come to our God.
The saddest
part is some of these people believe they are serving our God. They are just
waiting for Him to justify their human beliefs, and make a better pathway for
them to come into His kingdom. They are oblivious to the fact one must
relinquish their human will to find our God, to come into His Kingdom. God’s
will is only found in His Word, the Bible, not in the world around us, nor in
our own human minds. And no person can serve two masters. We must all choose
which master we will follow, our God or our own human intelligence.
Those who
reside in God’s Kingdom and still live on earth are not the perfect people one
would expect. We all sin, yet believers know how to fall down on our knees and
ask Jesus to forgive us. The more we learn about Jesus, the more we realize how
sinful and unworthy we really are. Our only worth lies in how much our God
loves us, a love so great that He sent His most precious possession, His only
Son, to die for our sins.
Many come into
our Father’s Kingdom when we are given life in our mother’s womb, and others do
not find our God until they are on their deathbed. Some are from families who
have continually known their God, continually worshiped Him. Others have been
very desperate people and have lived in Satan’s playground. They have done
every imaginable sinful thing. The rough roads and terrain they have been over
are littered with lost souls. But somehow they hear the Holy Spirit and follow
Him to the pathway. After all the trouble they have been through they know this
may be their last chance. They have no fear of falling down into the chasm, their only fear is they cannot be forgiven. They pray
to Jesus to rid them of all the evil they have trapped inside them. They cannot
believe the answer is so simple, that the free gift of Grace through Christ
makes them spiritually holy once more. They do not understand why so many
others, the prominent to the insignificant, are still on the outside looking
in.
All true
believers come into the spiritual Kingdom of God. Yet not all who enter this
Kingdom will stay with their Lord. It is very easy to cross back across the
pathway into Satan’s worldly domain. For the light is at your back clearly
showing you the way ahead, clearly showing you all of the temptations of the
world you have been missing. Some try to go from side to side, trying to be in
both Kingdoms. But it is always easier to cross the path back into the world
and this is where they will end up.
God’s Kingdom,
the true Christian Church is not any particular building or religious
denomination. Christ’s Church is the spirits and souls of all who truly believe
in their Lord. We are spiritually tied together in Christ wherever we worship,
as we endeavor to spread His word to all, while loving our fellow man as
ourselves.
Daily we go out
into the world working for our great God and our own earthly needs. When the
workday is done, we spiritually come home to our Father in our prayers. We
bring all of our praise, cares, thankfulness, and troubles to Him, knowing our
Father will always hear and answer them in the manner which is best for us.
We each have a
choice on which side of the chasm we want to eternally live. In the Kingdom of
God which will last forever; or the world which will pass away, with all in it
being cast into the eternal flames of Hell.
May this be our prayer when Jesus comes our
souls to claim
*For
to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Phil 1:22 ASV
Copyright 2002 amended 2013, 2014 by Ron Borkey