Narrow Gate

On Saturday mornings we have been attending a Messianic Jewish congregation, which I used to travel some distance to, but which has now relocated near us.

There is plenty of worship, teaching, prayer, studying the Bible, and eating together with others who love Jesus. It's fun to participate in congregational dancing (takes a little courage!), to view the Bible from an Hebraic mindset, and to revere God and obey all of His Word, both Old and New Testaments. He is the Lord that changes not.

Meanwhile Maggie has taken a job teaching in a preschool at the other synagogue in town, Reformed. Her job is to care for and teach preschoolers, and while earning money, she is also preparing for working with young people in Africa. She misses the orphanage kids in the Refillwe orphanage near Johannesburg, and her heart breaks especially for those drawn to the most lethal lifestyles. She hopes perhaps to be a house mother.

It is wonderful having her home. She arrived the day after Bob went to hospital, just as God ordered, with fresh faith and confidence in the Lord. This evening she is toting a carload of boys off to a youth event. Last evening she treated them to a sample of her uncompromising preaching. I can envision her before multitudes of African kids.

She tells a story of Heidi Baker a missionary in Africa who preached her heart out before 2000 children and still none came forward to receive Christ. A couple more days and the same thing happened. She was beside herself, weeping to the Lord about why, when late in the night there was a knock on her door. It was a 16 year old boy who apologized for waking her but explained that he had decided to die for Jesus and wanted to pray with her.

It was only then that Heidi realized what the children were waiting for. They were deciding whether or not they would take a step that could cost them their lives.

No wonder Jesus said the way is narrow that leads to life. Will I lay down my life to love the Lord my God with ALL my heart and soul and strength or am I just a fake and fearful "Christian?"

I think we make the gate to eternal life much too wide here in America.