The servant of Christ embraces the burden of righteousness. He walks uprightly with his ears tuned to the words of Holiness. The supplements of apostasy—submission to fleshly desires mixed with impatience and faithlessness—is the target fastened to the backside of his garments. He wars with the allure of his passions and maintains his temperance of evil things. Surely enough, as temptation tugs, his obedience to God’s law fastens its grip. 

Professed followers of Jesus Christ can be categorized under either of two labels concerning God’s commandments: obedient or disobedient. Those who are fully obedient to God’s commandments are identified by their faithfulness in Christ and purity in character. They view the law of God as paramount above all else, and seek to uphold its precepts faithfully. They stand against ungodly fellowship and are distinguishable in conversation by their righteous and purpose filled speech, as opposed to vain jangling. In contrast, the believer who disobeys God’s commandments “depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils” (King James Version, 1 Tim. 4.1). The condition of the latter professed follower is corrupted by the lack of reverence for God’s law. Folly and confusion distort their path, “having their conscience seared with a hot iron” (1 Tim. 4.2). By pursuit of worldly, fleshly desires, the one who disregards these statutes repels wisdom—the greatest companion of truth. The fruits of disdain are then manifested in lustful words, careless behavior and a corrupt mind. Hence, the dichotomy that exists between the obedient and disobedient believer teaches an important lesson: darkness has a seductive power, sweet to the senses of man. Yet, holiness conquers the deceitfulness of darkness through the promises and power of Christ. It is God’s promise to his followers that “if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine” (Exod. 19.5). Righteousness and obedience to God’s law bestows the right of supernatural privileges, from Jesus himself, upon the servant of Christ. Unrighteousness and disobedience boast wages of temporary pleasure—a sweet scent to a mind with dull discernment—but embraces deception and ultimately, death. To the mind finely tuned by the wisdom of Christ, Holiness clearly presents the greater promise. 

The Allure of Darkness

The path to God’s kingdom is paved with mud. Lifeless piles of thorny bushes stand like watchguards along the narrow route. Thick, brown grass dominates the field that surrounds it. Though the rich tones of darkness are intimidating, it becomes a deep contrast to the light that shines through the gate adorned with precious stones. This gate lies at the end of this path, and leads to the kingdom of heaven. From the surrounding darkness erupts temptation that intentionally blocks the path of the believer, following his love-struck eyes while it attempts to implement seductive strokes to his chest. The faithful believer recognizes this scheme and confidently responds with a firm motion forward. His heart now pumps aggressively as he traverses with his eyes fixed upon the shining light. Motivated by this signal for war, temptation continues to pursue him with intensity. 

Jesus proclaims that “strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matt. 7.14). The way to heaven, as implied by this imagery, is largely unattractive and uncompelling to most. Only those who live their lives committed to Christ, denying their lustful flesh and selfish passions, will endure to the end of this path. The experience is so distasteful that professed followers of Christ take joy in choosing an ‘alternative’ route. The unsettling truth is that there is no other way. 

Why, exactly, do believers less committed to following Christ fall into this temptation? The answer is simple: the allure of darkness. When temptation persists, the believer who seldom reads the word of God—or rather embraces the tradition of men over the law of God—is enticed to surrender themselves to the power of darkness. Whether it be drunkenness, guiltless fornication or idolatry, Satan navigates all the fleshly tastes of believers that fail to fortify their minds with truth. The result is hardly noticeable in the eyes of the victim, because “the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Cor. 4.4). Today, and every day until the return of Jesus Christ, Satan works to deceive the followers of God. He effectively blinds many minds by convincing them that they are harmonized with the truth, even though they compromise the law of God, and steers them away from the light of Christ that comes through obedience. Thus the saying stands true: “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.” Jesus communicates that “wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat”  (Matt. 7.13). 

A broad path is indicative of a world that has fallen into the snares of Satan, ignorantly yielding to his falsehood. The desires of the flesh overwhelm the souls of humanity with such intense power that many exchange eternal life for temporary pleasure. 

Those that “keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus” (Rev. 14.12) are those that are named the saints of God. It is God’s word, and his word only, that possesses the power to liberate the captives of darkness. Just as the mighty hand of God freed the Israelites from Egypt through his miraculous power, the hearts of willing souls will be given freedom by the light of Christ.