This is a little embarrassing to admit, but I was in my mid 30’s before I understood why people used the phrase “You can’t have your cake and eat it to”. In my head it didn’t make sense for this phrase to be used to explain to people that they had to make a choice. In my mind If you had cake of course you would eat the cake, why else would you have cake! Then I realized if you eat all the cake you no longer have cake on hand. I still think it’s a silly saying. However, it does illustrate to us that we often have to make choices where we have to pick between two things that cannot coexist. There is a recurring theme in the New Testament that the product of following our earthly desires is death but following the ways of God leads to life. Romans 8:13 “For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”
If we follow the desires of our flesh what we reap on earth is death in all areas of our lives. Whatever we think will lead us to life will actually suck the life out of us because it will never be enough. The only thing that can satisfy is God. This is where the decision comes in. There is a constant battle for our heart and we need to decide: do we choose what honors us or what honors God? Jesus said this is not an easy decision to make.
13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy [a] that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Matthew 7:13-14
Most people will choose the path that leads to destruction because that path is wider and looks easier. However, that path does not lead to life. It’s full of disappointment and destruction. It’s only when we choose the narrow path; the one that looks a little more difficult, the one that will definitely be harder. However, this is that path that leads to life. Jesus gives us the formula for how we can have life and have it to the fullest.
Matthew 16:24-26
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
The secret to “life” is found in submission to God and his ways. It’s found in sacrifice and denial of what we want and implementation of what He wants. The things we may seek after in this world aren’t necessarily always bad, sometimes they are morally neutral. These things may satisfy for a little while. We may gain some sort of earthly advantage or satisfaction but in “gaining the world” we will find that we are missing out on the only thing that can truly satisfy; a deep and real relationship with our Heavenly Father.
– Adam Deering
