I recently had a conversation about the need to recognize that this life is not (and will never be) a walk “through the daisies.” It is, instead, a battlefield—a place where an angry, roaring lion is looking for people to devour.
DARKENING COUNSEL
This is an old term for “wise counsel” that, if followed, actually leads to a person's harm rather than their good. All of us will face this throughout our lives as the enemy quietly adds his voice and his opinions to our lives through the mouths of well-meaning people.
The narrow path is the path of the Cross—a path of self-denial, obedience and love for God, love for others, and suffering. It was the Lord Jesus Himself who said:
Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. (Matthew 10:37-39)
Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels. (Mark 8:34-38)
Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. (Luke 9:23-26)
The Lord Jesus spoke these words to the people and the disciples many times, and Luke is careful in his Gospel to record the fact that Jesus said "daily." Yet, for many, when they see the crucified lifestyle in your life, they will counsel you, without realizing it, to tempt you away from this life. They will offer you good-sounding advice. They will offer you a way out—an easier way. This is what happened between Peter and the Lord:
From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”
Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done." (Matthew 16:21-27)
When you receive '”darkening counsel” (as Peter gave Jesus), it is important that you deal with it with the Word of God. Now, you probably don't need to look into the face of your sweet mother, or your boss, or your friend, or whoever it may be, and call them Satan—but at minimum, in your own heart, you need to clearly reaffirm your commitment to carry your cross daily so that those words don't sit like a poison in your heart.
Satan counsels us in these ways, through people who—from a worldly point of view—have our “best interest” in mind because he is trying to rob us of the inheritance we are to have in Christ! As it is written:
Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. (Romans 8:17-18)
It has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him.... (Philippians 1:29)
Here is a trustworthy saying:
If we died with him,
we will also live with him;
if we endure,
we will also reign with him.
If we disown him,
he will also disown us;
if we are faithless,
he remains faithful,
for he cannot disown himself. (2 Timothy 2:11-13)
The Way of the Cross leads to life. Only to those with a worldly perspective does the way of the Cross mean death. Stay firm on the narrow path: Trust God, obey God, and express your trust/obedience in love for your brothers and sisters as Jesus has loved you. This will keep you on the way of the Cross, which is the path to life.
In His love.
Essene Press Team
