Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to tell you a little story.
Many years ago before I became a believer, I had the opportunity to go through what is considered to be the third longest cave in the world, and can be found beneath the Black hills of Western South Dakota. It is known as Jewel Cave, and your journey towards the center of the Earth begins by stepping into an elevator and descending approximately 300 ft underground. This can be a little nerve-racking for those who are claustrophobic, but those who make it to the bottom are in for a treat. This cave is filled with many jewel-like features, Including some beautiful calcite crystal formations such as nailhead and dogtooth spar, along with boxwood, cave popcorn and flowstone. You could probably skip the stair climber for the day because it has approximately 700 steps that you must climb up or down throughout the tour. It is only about 50° so you also need to make sure you dress warm, probably even bring a hat and mittens along too. It takes a little over an hour to walk through and in order to get to the end, you need to do is stay on the elevated metal sidewalk that they have mounted securely in place. When I was there, the guide told everybody that he was going to shut the lights off for ten seconds so we could experience total blackness, and before you knew it, I couldn’t even see my hand in front of my face. But sometimes people explore caves on their own which has become known as spelunking. This can be a very hazardous hobby, and people die doing it every year. It’s extremely dangerous because they can run out of light, get stuck in a crevice, or die from hypothermia. Many of these caves are uncharted, and because of this, some of them will eventually get completely turned around, and lost in the dark.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
When you walk through Jewel Cave, there is a predetermined and set path that you must follow in order to get all the way to the end. This world is like a huge cave that each of us are passing through, filled with darkness around every corner, but if we stay on the narrow path of Christ Jesus that is contained in the teachings of Holy Scripture, we will eventually break through to the light and enter into everlasting life.
Matthew 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
One of the reasons why the path of Christ Jesus is so narrow, is because it requires turning away from sin, and walking in goodness, righteousness, and Truth, which is something that a lot of people do not want to do. The path becomes too steep for them, so they take the easier and more sinful route instead. Many people will attempt to enter into heaven, even believing that they will get there, but because they never repented of their sins and did the will of God from their hearts, they are going to come up short.
Hebrews 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
Rather than bringing forth works meet for repentance, many people will live in a state of rebellious impenitence toward God. Although Jesus loved them and died on the cross for them, they never really loved Him in return by turning away from their wickedness. Unless they come to a place of repentance, and humbly submit to the will of God, they are going to perish in their sins.
Luke 13:22-30 And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:
Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.
And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.
Unless people abide on the narrow path of scriptural truth, like a spelunker in a cave, they can roam off course, and get lost in the world. This is why we must never allow ourselves to wander to the left or to the right of biblical teachings, but keep completely focused, and turn away from evil.
Proverbs 4:26-27 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
Haggai 1:5 Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.
There are a lot of hidden dangers in caves, and each step that you place needs to be done circumspectly, with the understanding of the consequences for going the wrong way and getting lost. Each of us must be filled with the wisdom of God, so that we can continue to walk every day according to the will of God, and stay on the path that leads to life everlasting.
Ephesians 5:15-17 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
When people trust in themselves rather than staying on the trail of Scriptural Truth, they are headed for disaster.
Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
This world is like a huge cavern that we are walking through, a sinful place filled with darkness all around us. But if we light our lamps, and stay on the path that has already been forged by our Lord Jesus Christ, we can someday find our way out of here.
Jesus is our guide, and the scriptures are the map, and through repentance, and submission to the will of God, we will eventually break into the light, and escape out of the depths of….
……..Jewel Cave
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.❤️
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