Suck it in, sis

We've all been there: needing to squeeze into a pair of pants that fit last year, trying to sneak behind someone's chair without asking them to scoot in... so we take a deep breath, lay down or get on our tip toes, exhale & suck it in, and proceed.

We swore we were good this year, so why don't these fit?

That space looked big enough.... why couldn't I fit?

We don't really need to suck it in like that unless you're in a tight spot. I, like most of you, avoid tight spots. (Although I find myself in them more than I care to admit) But where I'm going- and hopefully you are, too- is definitely a tight place...

Jesus said in Matthew 7:13-14 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

Where I want to go isn't the wide gate, or broad road. It's tempting, though, isn't it?... with all that space I could just let all my sin spill out, so comfy... no sucking it in, no discomfort, just living my "best life". Or so the world says...

Narrow. Small... Where I want to go, it's going to be tight. Time to suck it in. But this time I'm not talking about our stomachs. And by sucking it in, I mean we die to self.  I'm talking about denying our flesh, our worldly desires, addressing and confessing our sin. We have to take in God's breath, exhale all of those things I just mentioned, lay it down at the cross, and proceed.

If you have given your life to the Lord, you're already on the path. Since none of us know how long each of us has here on earth-how long our path is- we need to make sure we're prepared for that path to get narrow and small real quick. (hence my joke about sucking it in.) 

If you haven't given your life to the Lord, unfortunately you're on that wide, broad road that leads straight to destruction. Even if you believe in God- until you've given your life to Him, and accepted Him as your Lord and Savior-- the wide path is your path. It's a lot smoother, less hiccups... to put it plainly- you're in the comfiest sweats ever. There's no need to suck it in, because sin just flies.

It may be a silly analogy, but when we stand at the fork in the road (which we all do) we need to ask ourselves: "am I willing to suck it in for some temporary discomfort this side of Heaven, for an eternity in glory with God? Or would I rather experience all the comforts of the world, only to find myself in a hellish position for eternity?"

While you might not feel like you have to "suck it in" for now, see what Luke gives us in Luke 13:22-30. We see that we don't always get a second chance. God's love and mercy abound, but please, do not waste another moment giving anything but Him your whole heart. 

Don't worry about doing it perfectly. Nobody can. He just wants you to sincerely try, with Him, and choose Him; and the path that leads to Him. 

YOU are the 1 He left the 99 for. You're at the fork, and it's time to choose a path. Which one are you taking?