Pruning with Love

CHAPTER ONE

THE INVITATION

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30

Jack was so proud of his brand new automobile that he wanted everyone he knew to see it. His Mercedes-Benz M-Class cost him $121,000, plus tax, but it was worth it just to show others how successful he really was. He liked having others look up to him. One thing troubled him. He was afraid that it might get scratched or even damaged. He decided to keep it parked in his driveway so people could see it and admire what he had, but he underestimated the damage the sun could do, until he began to notice the paint had faded and lost its luster. The engine suffered because oil was not circulated regularly. The tires began to rot from sitting in one place.

We might chuckle at Jack’s foolish decision that allowed his expensive car to go to waste. The truth is that there are millions of people who have been given an invitation to have a whole new life in Christ, but they reject God’s offer. They just want to appear religious to impress others, but they miss all the excitement that comes from daily fellowship with Christ in his word.

These people wake up each morning wishing it was Friday so they could look forward to a weekend of escape from reality. Some miss having a  home like they could have had if only they were willing to allow God to guide them in their marriage. Where there are troubled lives, they need to heed their Lord’s warning:  “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. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. ”

It would be a mistake to think that this teaching of our Lord only applied to unbelievers. Both Christians and non-Christians who could enjoy a richer life if they took Jesus more seriously about choosing the right path for their lives. If anyone chooses that broad road, straying from the narrow path Jesus represents, that person will learn that it the broad road brings heartache and pain into his life. If a person wants to live life to its fullest, he cannot choose to wade through swamps or try crossing huge deserts under his own power.

Jesus offered his invitation to every human being on the face of the earth, even though some people may never have heard it. He addresses this invitation to the person who is disillusioned with life, fearful of death and confused about daily choices that must be made. If the hurting ones listen very closely, they hear Jesus saying, “Child, are you hurting inside? Are you ready to listen to my invitation to give up trying to manage your own life with your own wisdom? If you will just come to me, I will give you a new inner peace and joy that you have never known.” Still, there are hurting individuals outside congregational memberships as well as those who come to worship each week. Some Christians might even wonder if this promise is just a nice fanciful saying. The truth is that any empty, suffering soul has  forgotten that Jesus said, “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.” In other words, one is foolish to reject his Creator’s manual for daily living.

There is always the danger that even Christians are drawn to charismatic personalities promising  them solutions for their daily living that are only an empty babble. They foolish accept the counsel of friends who merely say what they want to hear. Easy solutions are chosen to avoid crucifying one’s  old nature or giving up the baubles that seem to offer so much. Our invitation from Jesus is an offer of easy, comfortable living. We are invited to trust his teachings, choose the narrow road and submit to his Lordship as we claim him as our only hope.

Every human being has two masters struggling to gain control over his life. Like a glib politician, one promises everything an  individual desires such as success, pleasure, riches and easy living. It is only natural to be drawn to anyone or anything promising us a great life without any heartaches or sacrifices. The problem is that anyone listening to this would be master discovers he has bought a mine loaded with fool’s gold. There may be moments when it seems possible to get the most out of life through self-indulgence, but reality will eventually prove otherwise.