What barriers in your life prevent you from fully following Christ today? \A Great Chasm Fixed\ “ ‘And besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that those who want to cross from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross from there to us.’ ” (Luke 16:26) The words Jesus places on Abraham’s lips expose a sobering reality: after death the gulf is permanent. Right now, however, that same gulf often shows up in smaller, everyday ways that keep us from wholehearted obedience. Identifying those “mini-chasms” is the first step toward closing them while there’s still time. \Modern Chasms That Hold Us Back\ • Comfort and self-reliance – Luke 12:19 warns of the soul that says, “Take life easy; eat, drink, and be merry.” • Love of money and possessions – Matthew 6:24: “You cannot serve God and money.” • Unrepentant sin – Psalm 66:18: “If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” • Unbelief and doubt – Hebrews 3:12 calls unbelief “an evil heart that turns away from the living God.” • People-pleasing and fear of man – Galatians 1:10 contrasts pleasing people with being a servant of Christ. • Unforgiveness and bitterness – Ephesians 4:31-32 urges us to “put away all bitterness… forgiving one another.” • Hurry and distraction – Luke 10:41-42 shows Martha “worried and upset about many things” while Mary chose “the good part.” \Why These Barriers Feel Immovable\ • They promise immediate gratification while Christ calls for eternal perspective (2 Corinthians 4:18). • They feed the flesh, which “wages war against the soul” (1 Peter 2:11). • They masquerade as neutral but quietly demand allegiance, becoming idols (1 John 5:21). \Steps to Narrow the Gap Today\ • Daily repentance—keeping short accounts with God (1 John 1:9). • Intentional surrender of specific loves—money, comfort, approval (Romans 12:1). • Regular Scripture intake—truth renews the mind and exposes lies (Hebrews 4:12). • Persistent prayer for faith that overcomes unbelief (Mark 9:24). • Active service to the “least of these,” redirecting love from self to others (Matthew 25:40). • Cultivating eternal vision—remembering life’s brevity and judgment’s certainty (Hebrews 9:27). \Live on the Near Side While You Can\ The rich man discovered the chasm too late; Lazarus enjoyed Abraham’s side forever. Today that gulf is still crossable—by grace, through faith, and by laying aside every weight (Hebrews 12:1-2). Whatever stands between you and full devotion to Christ is worth surrendering now, before the gap hardens into eternity. |
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