When I take my walk at lunch, I often approach a pretty busy intersection. Cars and trucks are flying by at the posted 45 mph, or often faster, to beat the light.
So naturally when I want to cross, I push the button and wait for the flashing "walking man" sign to tell me it's safe.
I always walk in between the lines, and when it's ok to do so.
But what if I decided once to just walk when I wanted to walk? Regardless of the traffic. What if I decided that the traffic laws should change for me?
What would the result be?
I'd probably be crushed with no one to blame but myself.
The same can be said for how we walk with Jesus. We don't get to walk outside his guidelines and expect not to be crushed.
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." - Matthew 7:13-14(NIV)
