I was out on a small walk the other morning and as I was heading back to the campsite that we were currently on (I often have to think about which part of the country we are in many times a day!) the sign on the gate said,
‘The Caravan Club, Private Property, no Public right of way.’
For a mili-second (honest!), I wondered if I was allowed to go through. I realised that of course I was allowed through; I was staying on the caravan club site! But that very fast moment got me thinking. The only reason I was able to pass through that gate was because I knew that that was where I was staying, that was where I belonged. I started thinking about how many Christians are falling short of the Christian life because they don’t know where they belong.
Yes, we’re saved and, when we die, we will go to heaven (I am thankful I don’t have to do anything else to achieve that) but, we also have access through a gate marked,
‘Abundant Life, Private Property, no public right of way.’
We signed up for a life that gives us access to the amazing promises of God (‘if’ clauses included) that the general public has no right to!
Believers that are connected to the author have a manual for life right in front of them! The devil is more than happy for us to look at that sign and stay this side of the gate because we are asking the question, ‘does that mean me?’ IT DOES!!
If I had let my doubts grow as to whether I could walk through the caravan club gate, I’d have been standing there now! The devil doesn’t care if you doubt that the full Bible is for you! If he can get you not to read it, he is winning.
Apparently, Christians, on average, read their Bibles for 2 minutes a day! – don’t be one of them. Because so many Christians don’t really know who they are, they simply look at that sign, they don’t go through the gate and thousands, if not millions, are underachieving.
How sad to have access to a gate marked ‘Abundant Life’ but because of doubt, fear and/or unbelief, we never pass through it! If you are loving God and loving people at His commanded level, then that sign means you can go through it.
Thanks for a new post. Good to be reminded of truth we know but sometimes forget. Talking of being reminded of things, I picked up a couple of old Gatehouse CDs to listen to on a long journey I was making recently and what was the first one? Your Chris talking about making space for God in your life; putting God first. Well, firstly, I was so happy to have Chris as my travelling companion and secondly, what good stuff it was! He used to bless me very much when I heard him preach in church and he blessed me all over again in my car that day. I hope he’s still letting God work through him in that way (or at least that he will in the future) because he’s very gifted in it. Please pass my love on to him and Justine when next you’re in touch. Lots to you and John too from us both. Sally xx
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