Articles
Choose A Road
Choosing A Road
“Enter by the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).
It is apparent that people, as our Lord sees them, are never at a stand-still morally or spiritually. Every person is traveling toward a destination, either eternal life or eternal death. All responsible people have passed through one of the two gates Jesus talks about.
One may enter the “narrow gate”. The word narrow means “compressed”. It describes a gate which has a small opening. And Jesus says that “few” will enter into it. The reason “few” will enter is because many are not willing to make the necessary changes in their lives to be able to enter. One cannot enter this gate as he naturally is. To enter the “narrow gate” one must be willing to restrict himself to God’s will in every aspect of his life. Christianity requires one to make the necessary changes and alterations to be able to enter this gate that leads to life.
To enter the “narrow gate” one must be willing to lay aside the old man of sin. “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him” (Colossians 3:5-10). Men need to learn that they cannot bring their sins into the way of life. One must also cease to be self-willed. Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24). Those who can walk in this way are they who have set their minds on God and His will. They have consecrated their lives to pleasing Him. To enter the “narrow gate” one must discard the sinful things of the world (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
One may enter the “wide gate”. This is the most inviting way so far as the world is concerned (Eph 2:2 – “the course of this world” –fv). So “wide is the gate” that one may pass through it with no effort at all. There is room in the broad way for all kinds of people to walk. One does not have to restrict himself to God’s will or make so much as one change in his life. It is large enough for any and all kinds of sin. Anyone can enter the “wide gate” and Jesus said, “and there are many who go in by it”.
The way into which Jesus wants all to enter is the “narrow gate” which leads to “the difficult way” which leads to eternal life, and He said, “there are few who find it”. Eternal life is available to all who will put forth the efforts to obtain it; God has made it accessible to all mankind. The way that leads to God is a restricted way, but that should not be a surprise to anyone, for the way to success even in this world is a restricted one. If one succeeds in business, he must stick to one thing; and if he succeeds at hunting, he must aim at one object. The same is true with going to Heaven.
Although restricted, the way of Christ is wide enough for all our needs. It is wide enough for any sinner who will repent and obey God. It is wide enough for us to walk beside Christ, something which those who walk in the “broad way” cannot do.
