Jesus said, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matt. 7:13-14).
There are two roads to travel in this world. Every single person is on one road or the other. There are no other ways that people are on except these two. Some may say there are other ways, but they are part of the broad way. These two ways are not visible to the natural eyes. They are the paths that our souls travel. They include our emotions and our affections. It is the way on which our innermost being is walking. Our deepest thoughts tell us on which road we are traveling.
Many are on the broad way. Few are on the narrow way. There are few who find it, which tells us it will take an effort. It will take more than just the average commitment. It will take getting up and searching for the gate to the narrow way. May God impress us to seek, especially if we have not found the way. Isaiah 55:6 says, “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.” We should seek with our eyes and ears but much more with our hearts. Our hearts, or central beings, are always testing things. That is how we are made. So we need to listen with our hearts to what God is impressing upon us. We need to follow the Spirit that leads us to the narrow way.
Now let us consider the broad way. It is the road on which we all will find ourselves if we do not answer God’s call. By default, it is the road we will take. It is not the right road. It is the broad way that leadeth to destruction—a wide road with lots of room for bad attitudes, pride, and many other sins. There are many people on it. Some people realize they are on the wrong road. They catch glimpses of their own sinful being but do not do anything about it. Others are deceived and hardly understand that they are bound for hell. Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” This is a dreary road of heartache—a road of frivolous mirth on the exterior and an empty void on the inside. Many millions are on this road. So which road are you on? There are only two roads.
Now let us give our attention to the narrow way. It is the one we really want to talk about. The narrow way is a beautiful path that runs a straight course to life eternal. Many people look at it longingly. There are pilgrims on the way. These pilgrims have had their robes washed white by Jesus’s blood. They have asked God to cleanse them of the filth of this world. The narrowness of this way is not to exclude the majority of people. No; the summons to come walk on this road is to all people and nationalities.
The reason there are few on the narrow way is because of the cost. Jesus said to the rich young ruler in Mark 10:21-22, “One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.” For this rich man, the cost was too great. In order for us to follow Jesus today, we must give up all, physically and spiritually.
It is true that there is a cross to bear. Matthew 11:30 says, “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Because we are yoked together with our Lord, it can be easy. Because He helps us carry our burdens, they can be light. The burden that God helps us carry may be a worry we have about a relative or friend who is not walking on the straight and narrow way. We pray and hope they can become willing and find the way. There are deep joys and treasures on the narrow way.
Daily rewards are on this way, but the reward at the end is not comparable to these. The end of the narrow road is heaven. The Bible says “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” (1 Cor. 2:9). The beauty, glory, and pleasure will be supreme. There we can sing with the redeemed. We can sing praises to God for making a way for us to get to heaven.
May God help us to walk on the narrow way. It is a humble way, a way of self-denial, but it is a way that leads home where we can be forever with our Lord and Savior.
From Messenger of Truth, Vol. 112, No. 9, April 30, 2014
