"The Narrow Road": Blogs By Shane Kastler

The Sinner's Advocate

By Shane Kastler

It would probably come as no surprise to you, if I told you that the Bible encourages us not to sin. To sin is to disobey and dishonor God; and it leads us down a path to destruction. (Matt. 7:13) The Bible teaches that “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) And that we are, by nature, sinners. Most of the problems we face in life are the direct result of sin. So it isn't surprising that the Bible encourages us not to sin. But it may be surprising to you to find out that the Bible also knows we will sin, and it offers us the remedy for it.

We see both truths taught in the book of 1 John. One, that we shouldn't sin. And two, that we still will. So what is the remedy? Jesus is the remedy. Here's what scripture says, “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.” (1 John 2:1-2)

First we see the admonition to not sin. This gives us the context of the passage. It is a passage encouraging us to avoid falling into sin. Then secondly we see what to do “if we sin.” This is when the believer should look to Christ and rest in Christ. This is when the believer should forsake their sinful, fleshly desires and renew their focus and commitment to the Lord. Jesus is described as our “Advocate.” In other words, he is like a defense attorney, or an older brother who comes to our aid when we need him. God the Father finds us acceptable and forgiven in his sight when we are found to be “in Christ.” As believers, who have repented of sin and committed our life to Christ by faith; we are in a spiritually protected class. This doesn't mean we should become complacent in our sin. But it does mean, that as we follow Christ, we should look to him to help us avoid sin. And to forgive and rescue us when we become entangled in it.

The word “propitiation” means a payment, or an atoning sacrifice. Jesus paid the eternal price for all who would trust in him. And the phrase “whole world” teaches us that salvation is not reserved for a particular ethnic group, geo-political nation, or race. While not every individual will be saved, there will be those from every “tongue, tribe, people, and nation.” (Rev. 5:9) This is what “whole world” means in this context.

In conclusion, try not to sin. If you can sin and not be bothered by it, then it could very well be proof that you are not the Christian you think you are. Try not to sin. But if you do sin, then run as fast as possible to “The Advocate.” Walk in the grace of the Lord, and know the joy of eternal forgiveness.

Righteous Sinners

By Shane Kastler

Are you righteous? Or are you a sinner? The fact is, you might be able to answer the question as “yes” in both cases. While the two words would seem to be opposites, there are people in this world who are righteous sinners. The “sinner” part is easy, because it applies to everyone by nature. As a result of being human, we are natural born sinners. Every single one of us displays a natural rebellion against God, on some level. The Bible says, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

Jesus was once ridiculed by the Jewish Pharisees because he “ate and drank with sinners.” When questioned, Jesus response was simple and yet profound. “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:17) So while Jesus was spending time with tax collectors and sinners, the religious leaders of the day shunned such people. They thought Jesus should also do this, and only associate with the “righteous.” Yet the great irony here, is that the ones who think themselves to be righteous, are not righteous at all. Jesus made it very clear that the Pharisees were self-righteous and uppity toward others. And such an attitude is in fact, quite sinful. The righteous were actually sinners, in desperate need of a savior, but their pride would not allow them to see this. But, by the grace of God, the lowly sinners of society were able to see their own unworthiness and Jesus's sufficiency as a savior.

Of course, when a sinner turns from their life of sin in repentance and commits their life to Christ by faith; they actually do become righteous. They receive credit for the perfect righteousness of Christ and are exonerated of their sin. As Jesus pays the price for it at the cross. Then, the new believer begins to have newfound desires for the things of God. Their righteous standing is seen in their righteous behavior. The very ones who were once spiritually dead, are now alive and bear fruit in accordance with their faith. The sinners have become righteous.

So are you righteous, or are you a sinner? There's no question that you are a sinner. But you can only be righteous through Christ. Commit your life to Him and turn your back on the sin that so easily entangles you. Look to Christ and point others His direction as well. The rewards will last the rest of this life, and beyond.

Your Appointment With Death

By Shane Kastler

Death is the one thing that everybody will face, yet nobody really wants to talk about. We go to great pains to avoid the topic, and do all that we can to prolong our days and run from death. But sooner or later, death catches up with us. Though it always seems to happen to someone else, one day it will happen to you.

The Bible says, “It is appointed unto man once to die and after this comes judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27) It would make sense then; to make peace with death before it comes. And more importantly, to make peace with your Maker before you must stand before Him in judgment.

The book of Ecclesiastes says, “A good name is better than a good ointment, and the day of one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth. It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, because that is the end of every man, and the living takes it to heart.” (Ecclesiastes 7:1-2) It seems counter-intuitive to say “death is better than birth” but this would absolutely be true for the believer. The Apostle Paul echoed this thought when he said, “To live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21) In other words, Paul knew that if he died, he would be ushered into the Lord's presence. And since he knew Christ as Lord and Savior here on earth, he could think of nothing better than to be with Him forever in a place of perfection. Thus, “to die is gain” for the Christian. But there are two sides to every coin.

If you are not a born again follower of Christ, then death will simply mark the early stages of eternal misery. While modern man scoffs at the idea of Hell, Jesus spoke of it often. And we would be utter fools to deny its existence. If we believe there is a Heaven, why would we not likewise believe there is a Hell? It is both logical and Biblical.

Furthermore, we must figure out who goes where. You would probably say that “good people” go to Heaven, and “bad people” go to Hell. Of course the Bible teaches that all of us are “bad” because of our sinful natures. (Romans 3:23) So who goes to Heaven? Those who have the righteousness of Christ. He is the only person who ever lived, who was not “bad” by nature. Christ, as the Son of God, is divine by nature and thus accomplished on behalf of sinners what they could not accomplish themselves. He lived perfection, then He died a sacrificial death to pay the eternal price for the sins of His people. We get credited with His righteousness. He takes the punishment for our sin. And who are His people? Those who repent of their sin and commit their lives to Him by faith. These are the Christians. These are the redeemed. And these are the only ones who need not fear death. We know death is coming. It is coming for me. It is coming for you. Will you be prepared when it makes it's inevitable arrival?

The Certainty of Death

By Shane Kastler

Death is the one aspect of life that everyone faces, yet no one wants to think about. It is “hard wired” into humans to seek life and avoid death. The fear of death is why we go to the doctor when we're sick, and why we got the cellar when a tornado is approaching. We want to live long and prosper. We want to be happy and healthy. And these are good desires to have. But death still approaches, and we had better be prepared for it.

While no one looks forward to the process of dying, Christians have the capacity to face death with a certain peaceful expectancy that unbelievers cannot know. The Apostle Paul spoke glowingly about the possibility of death because he knew that it meant he would depart this world of trial and tribulation and enter into the glorious presence of Christ. As he considered the thought of living or dying, he was honestly torn between the two prospects, saying, “I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better.” (Philippians 1:23) So how can a person face death with this level of peace? Only by knowing Christ.

The more we consider the glory that awaits us after the grave, the more our fear of death vaporizes into nothingness. Yes, we must die. And no, we do not relish the idea of pain, sickness, or suffering. But the thought of being in the presence of the Lord, in a place where there is no sin, sorrow, pain, or suffering; drives us to embrace death as a natural end to our earthly pilgrimage. And we do this with the full assurance that God will see us through the process. It has been said that “dying grace” is not given until dying grace is needed. But when it is needed, God always provides.

How long has it been since you've faced up to the reality of your approaching death? Are you ready to meet your Maker? If you do not know Christ as Lord and Savior of your life, then you are not adequately prepared for death. Just as sure as Heaven exists for believers, so too does Hell for the unbeliever, and both places last forever.

Examine your life and faith; and prayerfully consider whether or not you know the Lord. Turn from your sin in repentance and commit your life to Jesus Christ, by faith. Begin the process of discipleship today, so that the process of death will not overwhelm you tomorrow. Seek the Lord while He may be found. Death is coming, whether you like it or not. Stand ready to greet it with open arms, having Jesus by your side and in your heart.

Sachi's Motorbike

By Shane Kastler

Soichiro and Sachi were a married couple who lived in Japan in the late 1940s. Times were tough and food was scarce in the post-World War II era; so Sachi would get on her bicycle every morning and ride around looking for a place to get rice to eat. Soichiro had been a good provider in the past, but had fallen into a funk. He spent most of his time piddling around the yard, tinkering with his tools. Sachi eventually got frustrated with him, and told him that from now on he could get up every morning, get on the bike, and go look for rice. But Soichiro didn't like that idea at all. He had a different idea.

Soichiro told Sachi that he would rig up a motor for her bicycle so she could travel around more easily. His contraption worked, and Sachi was quite pleased with her new transportation. Soichiro was also pleased, and thought he might be able to make a living by selling this “motorbikes.” Since the war had ended there was a surplus of small motors that were being tossed aside as worthless. So Soichiro started hoarding them up and making “motorbikes.” He assumed his primary customers would be Japanese women like Sachi, who would appreciate the convenience of not having to peddle. Initially, this was his primary customer, but eventually men started buying the bikes also. And soon Soichiro had a booming business that would provide for his family. What was Soichiro and Sachi's last name? Honda.

Sometimes in life, we just need a little “kick in the pants” to get us motivated. And sometimes God provides this. God also has a way of providing for us in ways we would not imagine. Interestingly enough, He provides for the temporal needs of both believers and unbelievers alike. Jesus said, “He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Matthew 5:45) And we know that the sun and rain provide the necessary ingredients for crops to grow, so that we might live. But life is more than food, and living is more than breathing. There are spiritual needs as well.

Jesus came to earth so that we might have eternal life. He lived a life of sinless perfection and died a sacrificial death on the cross to pay for the sins of those who would trust in Him. As sinners, we are called to repent and believe in Jesus; committing our life to Him by faith. And when this happens, we are saved and granted eternal life. Our life on earth is radically changed, and our eternal future will be unending joy in Heaven. Do you know Christ? Have you trusted in Him for salvation? Are you following Him daily in loving obedience? He has provided for your temporal needs, all throughout your life. Trust Him today, for your eternal needs as well.

Rich & Wretched

By Shane Kastler

We should view everything we have in life as being a gift from God. Even if we've worked very hard to have the things we have, we should recognize that even the ability to work comes from God. Furthermore, we should be aware of the fact that financial riches pale in comparison to spiritual ones. And while most people would prefer to have both, it is eternally important that we have the spiritual ones.

The church of Laodicea believed themselves to be rich. But in truth, they were spiritually destitute. Jesus said this to them: "Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. ‘Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.” (Revelation 3:17-19)

Like the Laodiceans, you may consider yourself to be self-sufficient. In a physical and materialistic way, you might have everything you want or need. But your spiritual needs are far greater than your physical ones. You need a relationship with Jesus Christ. You need to know that you are a sinner before God and that Christ is the only one who can forgive you of your sins. You need to be transformed into a new creature in Christ. You need to be “born again” by the Holy Spirit's work. You may think you're rich, but spiritually speaking, we are all poor. We are all sinners. We are all wretched at heart.

Prayerfully examine your life today and see what you find. Ask the Lord to test you and try you, and see if there may not be wickedness lurking within your heart. Sometimes wickedness is so obvious that all the world can see it. Or sometimes wickedness is subtle, sly, and deceiving. Wickedness can be seen in someone who murders or steals. Or it can be seen in something as simple as thinking yourself to be rich, and yet actually being spiritually poor and destitute. We all need the Lord. May you recognize this today, and commit your life to Him.

Good Intentions

By Shane Kastler

It's been said, “The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.” And there is definitely some truth in that statement. While the Bible makes it clear that “without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6) - it should also be noted that it matters who or what you place your faith in. An undying faith in a false god will not lead you to Heaven. No matter how sincere, or well meaning you are.

I once heard the story about a man who was welding an exhaust pipe on a car. Fearing that it would get too hot and start a fire, he had his uncle standing by with a bucket of water to douse on the car if it started to smolder. Sure enough, a small fire lit up; and the uncle, in his zeal, dumped the entire bucket of water on the fire. The problem was, he had picked up a bucket filled with gasoline instead of water, and the small flame exploded into a massive fireball.

What's the moral of the story? The uncle was well-intentioned, but his actions could have proved fatal, both to his nephew and to him. His “faith” in the water bucket was unfounded, when it turned out to be gas instead. And no matter how well-intenioned he was, he had placed his faith in something that would never save them. Fortunately they were able to put out the fire and both men survived the scare. But eternal fires will not be quenched so easily.

It's not enough to merely have faith. You must have faith in Jesus Christ. The Bible says, “There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) We are called to turn from our sin in repentance and submit our lives to Jesus Christ by faith. True salvation does not entail making a one-time “decision” but rather a lifetime commitment to the Lordship of Christ. With that said, the lifetime commitment, must begin at some point. Maybe that moment for you is today.

Consider your life and think about where you are heading. You may be the most sincere individual on the planet, but your good intentions will get you nowhere if you are sincerely wrong about the object of your faith. The road to Hell is paved with good intentions. And the road to Heaven is immersed in the blood of Christ. Trust in Him and be saved. Or continue on down the Christ-less road you are traveling. You will spend eternity somewhere. Today is the day to think about where that might be. Tomorrow may be too late.

The Sacrifice of Fools

By Shane Kastler

Under the Old Covenant, animal sacrifices were frequently offered by Israelites who were seeking forgiveness of sin. In all honesty, the animal sacrifices themselves did not atone for sin, but rather they pointed forward, in a very graphic way, to the true “Lamb of God” who would make the only real payment for sins. Jesus died on the cross to pay for the sins of those who trust in Him.

While the animal sacrifices were required under the Old Covenant, there should have been heart involvement on the part of the sinner as well. In other words, it was not meant to merely be a transaction of commodities, whereby the sinner “paid” with an animal” and God “forgave” based on the payment. True forgiveness involves a sinner whose heart is genuinely grieved over the sin and has a desire to turn from it. But many who lived under the Old Covenant had merely turned it into an economic issue. Not caring about their sin, they paid what was required and didn't care. This was foolish on their part.

The Bible warns, “Guard your steps as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil.” (Ecclesiastes 5:1) While we do not live under the Old Covenant, we can be guilty of offering “the sacrifice of fools.” For us it would involve having a flippant attitude regarding our sin; and an irreverent mindset toward the worship of God. We too can be guilty of approaching God with a heart of haughtiness, expecting Him to forgive us, based on the false notion that He owes us grace. In truth, God owes us nothing.

Grace, by definition, is unearned. In other words, nobody deserves grace. God, however, freely gives it. Those who turn from their sin in repentance and commit their lives to Christ by faith, experience the grace of God. It was God's grace that convicted them of their sin. It was God's grace that drew them to Christ. It was God's grace that granted them a repentant and faithful heart. And it will be God's grace that will lead them home to Heaven.

Examine yourself and make sure that you are not regularly offering to God the “sacrifice of fools.” Approach God with a sense of humble reverence, mixed with a major dose of joy for all the good things He's done for you. Rather than foolishness, devote yourself to faithfulness. And rather than trying to earn your way to Heaven, trust in Jesus, the only one who could truly pay the infinite price that you and I owe.

Glad to be Ungodly

By Shane Kastler

You and I are sinners by nature. The Bible makes this abundantly clear, over and over again. From the beginning, when Genesis records the entrance of sin into humanity and the resulting curse. To the book of Revelation when Satan and those who follow him receive their final and just condemnation. A thread of sin runs through history from beginning to end; and none of us escapes it's grasp. We are sinners. We are wicked. We are ungodly.

While your inclination might be to excuse your sin; either by downplaying the severity of it, or by pointing out that everyone else is bad too. The reality is, we are without excuse and we are deserving of whatever punishment our holy and righteous Creator might wish to pour out upon us. When we begin our understanding from this viewpoint, we then have the perspective to be amazed by a gracious God who saves. While none of us should be proud of our ungodly nature, we should take comfort that it is only “the ungodly” who the Lord does save.

The Bible says, “For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:6) Jesus didn't die to pay the price for righteous people. Indeed, apart from Christ there never have been any righteous people. So we shouldn't pretend we are. As sinners we should embrace the fact that we are spiritually dead and depraved. We should be broken and contrite over it. And then we should cry out to the Savior for mercy, as we display a repentant faith that looks to Christ and trusts in Him alone for salvation. We should devote every aspect of our being and the entirety of our remaining days on earth to following Him in glad submission. And we should rejoice that Jesus saves.

It might sound strange for a person to say they are “glad” about being ungodly. And indeed, we should not be proud if we are STILL ungodly. But we should glory in a gracious Father who sent a willing Son to die for the ungodly. If it is only the “ungodly” that Jesus saves, then sign me up. But don't keep me ungodly. Conform me to the character of Christ and make me a witness to the glory of His grace. Let us be joyful that God saves sinners, and let us be more joyful still that He sanctifies saved sinners by placing them in Christ and making them daily more like Him. Thank you Jesus, for dying for the ungodly.

Atheism, Evolution, & Suicide

By Shane Kastler

While people and animals have some similar traits, they are not the same. In several places, the Bible affirms that people are more important than animals. God gave Adam dominion over the animals in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 1:26). Jesus likewise told His disciples, “Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.” (Luke 12:6-7)

People and animals are alike in the sense that they are both a part of God's creation, and are thus dependent upon Him. They are both born. They both die. But people, who possess an eternal soul, are more important. Which means that modern day attacks on humanity, are not only incorrect, they are potentially dangerous.

Not all atheists believe in evolution; and not all evolutionists are atheists; but most are. Atheism teaches that there is no God and evolution teaches that man came about as a result of “accidental” chemical processes that eventually led from primordial ooze to humanity. Such nonsensical explanations for humanity and the world around us are simplistic answers, disguised as intellectualism. Believers are often mocked for being gullible and/or stupid. But the evidence for God is clearly seen in the creation which gives compelling evidence of intelligent design. Believing in God is not foolish. Rejecting obvious proof for His existence is.

One, potentially fatal byproduct of embracing a Godless worldview is the despair that it can lead to. If people are nothing more than evolved animals, and there is no God nor after life to consider; then what is the point of life? Many people embrace this fatalistic mindset and spiral into a life riddled with depression. This can, and sometimes does, lead to an over reliance on drug or alcohol use to lift the spirit and ease the pain. Which in turn sometimes leads to a chemical dependency with chilling, and even fatal results. It is no coincidence that the modern day increase in atheistic worldviews has coincided with skyrocketing depression and suicide rates.  Some suicides can be traced to specific events that sent a person reeling into a black hole.  But some suicides are "systemic suicides."  That is to say, they are the result of an atheistic educational system that tells people from day one that they are unimportant and that life has no meaning.  Over the course of time, some will sadly start to believe this lie.  And the results can be catastrophic.  If life has no point, then who cares what you do? Embrace all the sinful pleasures you can while you have breath. But if you were created for a purpose, then pursue that purpose and find the peace and joy that only the Lord can provide.

You are here for a reason. People were created to glorify God; and the only way to rightly do that is to embrace His son Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Life makes sense, when it is correctly oriented around your Creator. You are not a cosmic accident, and there is eternal purpose in your existence. Don't let the educated idiots of modern society tell you otherwise. Life does have purpose. And you should have hope. Reject the dark answers that Godless philosophies provide to life's ultimate questions. You were made to know and enjoy God. Get about doing what you were created to do.